GPRMC one of first Okla. hospitals to 'Ban the Bag'

BABY FORMULA GIFTS DISCOURAGED BY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Dale Denwalt
Daily Elk Citian

Under a plan by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, hospitals are agreeing to stop sending home with new mothers free formula samples in gift bags.

Great Plains Regional Medical Center was one of the first in Oklahoma to "Ban the Bag" about eight months ago.

"We were probably one of the first five in the state of Oklahoma," said Director of the Women's Center Lori Cloud, R.N.

The goal is to reduce the dependence on baby formula and encourage breastfeeding, she said.

"It's an initiative to support our breastfeeding moms. They've found that a lot of moms quit breastfeeding early on simply because they didn't receive adequate support in the hospital," said Cloud.