FORT WORTH, Texas -- Health-care providers would be banned from passing out free formula to new mothers under bills filed in the Texas Legislature that are receiving support from breast-feeding advocates.

Formula manufacturers have a long-standing practice of providing diaper bags and samples of their products to hospitals. Breast-feeding supporters say that giving a new mother a diaper bag filled with formula sends a contradictory message.

"That's like telling someone who had a heart attack that they should eat healthy food, but in case you can't, here's some McDonald's coupons," said Marianne Baker-Bolduc, chairwoman of the Legislative Committee of the Central Texas Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, a nonprofit organization.

Formula makers are expected to lobby against the bill, though they have not mobilized.

"We're still in the very early stages of understanding where this legislature is going," said Tracey Noe, spokeswoman for Abbott Labs, Ross Products Division. "We're not going to get into any details until we have a chance to review it."

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Rep. Ruth McClendon, both San Antonio Democrats, have filed the bills, which are meant to stop formula companies from using health-care providers to advertise to a vulnerable population, Baker-Bolduc said.

Hospitals would be allowed to provide formula when it is medically necessary, said Jenne Gonsales Garza, legislative assistant to Van de Putte. Plus, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children would be able to provide formula to low-income families.

The benefits of breast-feeding have been widely reported, including a reduction in the incidence of ear infections, bacterial meningitis and other illnesses, according to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It may also protect against sudden infant death syndrome, diabetes and asthma, as well as reduce the mother's risk of ovarian cancer.

While supportive of breast-feeding, the International Formula Council issued a statement disagreeing with the study's results and noting that other factors affect infant health.

The American Academy of Pediatrics last month updated its 1997 policy to recommend mother's milk exclusively for the first six months of life.

Many women aren't following that advice, however. Although 67 percent of women are breast-feeding when they take their baby home from the hospital, only 29 percent are still breast-feeding by the time the child is 6 months old, according to Denise Rice, a Dallas registered nurse lactation consultant.

One of the reasons for the drop is the availability of formula. If a woman has trouble breast-feeding, there's likely to be a ready supply of formula on hand, Rice said.

Plus, a lot of women choose to bottle-feed because it is convenient, said Laura Burnett, clinical coordinator for the breast-feeding support center at Harris Methodist H.E.B. hospital.

"Our culture is so scheduled that we have a hard time relaxing and just going with the flow," she said. "But babies don't look at the clock; moms do."

Christina Hood, who gave birth to a girl Sunday, said she didn't feel pressured to use formula or breast-feed.

"Even the formula companies say breast-feeding is the best thing to do. I think if you can do it, you should," said Hood, who is breast-feeding.

Story courtesy of Fort Worth Star-Telegram.