Choosing the “convenience” of formula right after childbirth is tantamount to deciding the baby will never nurse.

First-time moms are often in poor shape to make such a decision. Unless the mother has made a positive decision to feed her baby only formula before childbirth, family members and hospital staff should strongly encourage nursing. Once a mother’s milk has come in and her infant has nursed for a few days, the mother can make a more informed decision about feeding formula.

Yes, this plan deprecates the new mother’s judgment. In this case that is justified– the stakes are very high, the inescapable physical fact is that new mothers often experience a period of diminished mental capacity (due to fatigue, drastic hormone changes, postpartum depression, etc.) and these legitimate medical concerns justify some external pressure on her to act in ways which will keep options open for her and, very importantly, her infant.