Just got home from work and found a front-page article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle about Cindy Howard's study of the effect of formula gift paks on the length of a mom's nursing experience.  Heard about this study at a conference she did in Syracuse a year or two ago.  According to the paper, it was published last week in "Obstetrics and Gynecology.  Three obstetrical offices participated by giving out either a "research" pak which contained information about feeding options, but no formula promotion stuff, or the usual gift pak which contains formula promos.  According to the article (haven't read the study yet), those who received the formula promos were more likely to stop nursing, even before they had left the hospital, than those who had received the research pak.  It showed a fivefold increase in the quit rate within 48 hours of delivery and a twofold increase within two weeks of delivery.  Those of you who are in this battle might want to get a hold of this research to share with skeptical docs and administrators.

The newspaper story is available at:   http://www.rochesternews.com/0207breastfeeding.html.  Maybe this would be a good candidate for the new Journal Article Club.


Warmly,
Sharon Knorr, BSMT, ASCP, IBCLC
Newark, NY (near Rochester on Lake Ontario)
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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