Hello.  I live in Madrid, Spain where abm is generally sold in pharmacies
(no prescription needed), even though it is also available in
supermarkets.  I´m not exactly sure when it started being sold in
supermarkets, but I have noticed over the past 4 1/2 years that I´ve been
here that pharmacy space in increasingly dedicated to the abm products.  I
assume that the pharmacies are trying hard to compete with the supermarkets.

Mothers typically take their babies to the pharmacies to weigh them (more
often than necessary).  It is difficult to convince mothers that if a baby
has had a great first month, is feeding and eliminating well, that weekly
weighing is no longer necessary.

Yesterday when I stopped in at a pharmacy, I noticed a new little sign
posted.  It translates:  Fill out your Baby Information Card and keep track
of your baby´s weight, development, and more!

I asked the pharmacist if she could tell me about this.  She told me that
it´s something new.  You fill out the card with the baby´s name, birth
date, "information", etc.  The pharmacy will keep it on file.  Then you may
come in and weigh the baby as often as you like and keep track of it all in
one place.  They will also provide you with information about your baby´s
development, vaccination reminders, and more!!  (I guess there´s no mystery
what the "MORE" is!!)

After work, I went to a pharmacy by my house, because the previous pharmacy
didn´t have what I wanted.  I was surprised to see my usual pharmacy with
extra stands of abm advertising, along with the cute little baby scale, and
two lovely glossy books from Mead Johnson on the table.  One is
called "Pregnancy and Lactation" with two cute little bears on the cover,
both holding baby bottles!!  The other is called "Las Ayudas", which
translates literally to "helping things", but the understood meaning
is "Supplements."  I asked to take one of each and the pharmacist said, "Of
course, they are there to help mothers!"

I have more to comment, but no more time.  I´ll be back.

Gina in Madrid

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