Bag free in the Bay State.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Breastfeeding Promotion

Background:

• Formula company-sponsored discharge bags negatively impact breastfeeding initiation and duration.
• Massachusetts maternity facilities banned formula discharge bags by July 2012, becoming the second state to do so.
• Facilities faced challenges, including cost concerns, in replacing these bags.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the practices adopted by Massachusetts maternity facilities in lieu of formula company-sponsored discharge bags.
• To assess the types of gifts and associated costs implemented by these facilities.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among all maternity facilities in Massachusetts regarding their discharge gift practices.
• Data collected included information on gifts provided and their associated costs.

Main Results:

• The survey achieved a 100% response rate.
• 59% of facilities offered their own branded gift bags, some with educational materials or small items; 14% provided gifts without bags; 27% gave no gift.
• Gift costs ranged from $1 to $35 (mean $10.67), funded by hospital budgets or donations.

Conclusions:

• Most facilities replaced formula discharge bags with alternative gifts, but a significant portion discontinued gifts altogether.
• Eliminating discharge gifts is a feasible and cost-neutral strategy to support evidence-based breastfeeding practices.