As one of the IBCLCs on the iParenting list of breastfeeding experts, I
wanted to
comment on Marita's post that included the Enfamil offer.

I was the original IBCLC for this website way back when it was only a
pregnancy website. I had long discussions with the owner of the website
about keeping the site clean and she agreed. The site grew and grew and grew
and is now a family of websites that includes breastfeed.com and
babiestoday.com. Since I subscribe to both the newsletters from these two
subsites, I received the formula ad that Marita included in her note and
immediately contacted the breastfeed.com site's editor as well as the owner
of iParenting, expressing my dismay.

The owner replied that she is determined to keep the breastfeed.com site
"clean" but for financial reasons can't turn down the formula money for the
other sites. The ad came through the babiestoday site.

Honestly, I am on the fence on this particular situation. The breastfeed
site is very good, and I have enjoyed working for them. I don't get paid
unless I write an article for them, and haven't had time to do that for a
long time--long before she started collecting formula money. I was paid a
token amount a few years ago to stay on as an expert, but again, that was
before the formula companies began "contributing" to the finances of
iParenting.

When the ad hit from babiestoday, I had intended on having the owner at
least remove my name from the babies today list of experts, and had
forgotten about it till this note hit lactnet (thanks for the reminder!) I
guess I'm still undecided about what to do about the breastfeed.com site. If
it is clean and I'm not currently getting any income from this site, but the
site benefits from the funding that formula companies contribute to as part
of the iParenting family, is that still black and white as far as IBCLC
ethics?

Any suggestions?

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC


> Date:    Sat, 18 Sep 2004 16:36:50 -0700
> From:    Nickison Family <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: formula marketing - from my inbox
>
> Another example of marketing.  The "iParenting" group of newsletters
> includes "Breastfeeding Today", which I believe is written by an IBCLC.
(I
> don't have a saved msg to check.)
>
> Marita Nickison, RN, IBCLC

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