Hello everyone!
       I had several requests for copies of my letter, so I decide to copy it
here.  This is the original letter, written August 1994.  Names & such have
been changed.
----------------------------------------------------
August 24, 1994

Ms. Jane Smith
Vice-President of Nursing Services
Memorial Hospital
123 East First Street
Anytown, IN 00000

Dear  Ms. Smith:

    I was recently a patient at Memorial Hospital giving birth to my first
child.  I am happy to say that the care I received was, for the most part,
exceptional.  Not only was the facility more than adequate, the nursing staff
was outstanding.
    What I would like to share with you, is a strong disappointment that I
experienced during my stay.  I praise your efforts to promote breastfeeding
by not giving out formula samples to breastfeeding moms, and by having an
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant on staff that is available
to patients.
    There was never any question in my mind that I was going to breastfeed,
but most mothers are unsure, and not as determined.  We live in a society
where bottles are considered the norm, and women are not self-confident or
supported enough to successfully breastfeed.  So what did I get at the end of
my stay? --a diaper bag that has Ross Laboratories' logo (a teddy bear) all
over the outside, and the names of two of their formulas printed all over the
inside.  The inside of the bag contained the following items:

     -a toy in the shape of their logo
     -several pamphlets with infant feeding information
       -$1.50 coupon for formula
       -$2.00 coupon for a Ross Breast Pump
     -a measuring tape from yet a different formula company (Mead-Johnson)

ALL of these items are aimed to promote formula company products and to
undermine breastfeeding. No formula company is in any way interested in
promoting good breastfeeding information because they are only in business
for one thing--to make money!  They cannot make money if mothers are
breastfeeding and not using their formula, right?   I have enclosed the above
items for your own inspection.  [AND I SENT BACK THE WHOLE BAG, COUPONS, ETC,
WITH THIS LETTER!]
    Now I ask you, where does Memorial Hospital's policy sit on the issue of
promoting breastfeeding?  It seems to me that you are sending conflicting
messages.  A joint statement from WHO and UNICEF states:  "The competent
authorities should ensure that such 'discharge packs' contain nothing that
might interfere with the successful initiation and establishment of
breastfeeding...".
    The advantages of breastfeeding are endless and should be wholly
supported.  I find it hard to believe that Memorial Hospital wants to promote
the use of artificial infant formula, so these companies can make more money.
 I implore you to re-examine this policy, or establish one that completely
eliminates the use of ANY  formula company's product or materials for ANY
mother delivering at Memorial Hospital.  Other progressive hospitals have
already taken this step to show they favor breastfeeding.
    New mothers get bombarded enough during pregnancy and after delivery with
many formula company coupons, promotions, etc.  Trust me that they are not
losing out on any opportunities.  Those formula companies will find ways to
get to new moms.  Unfortunately, our society allows this, but Memorial
Hospital does not have to endorse formula feeding.  Please help send the
message that breastfeeding is best for all babies.
    I have tried to keep this letter short, but there is so much more
information I could have written.  If you have any questions about anything
in this letter, I would be glad to hear from you.  I hope this letter
inspires some action for change, and I will be eager for a response.  Thank
you for your time.

                                Sincerely,

                                Sandy Arnold
------------------------------------------------------------
       The letter was cc'd to the IBCLC at the hospital and to the Chief of
Pediatrics (who, at the time, was my Ped).  After the letter was sent, the
hospital responded with a letter that is was not THEIR decision, but that it
fell to the Peds, as it was on their standing orders to go to new moms being
discharged.  Before I even received the response letter from the hospital, my
Pediatrician called me at home and told me they had just finished their
section meeting where this had been discussed.  He said that all the Peds had
unanimously decided to discontinue formula company discharge packs to ALL new
moms!!!!  Needless to say, I was stunned.  He proceeded to tell me that I had
single-handedly made a huge difference in our community with my letter.  He
probably said some other things too, but I was a bit dizzy from trying to
take it all in--was I dreaming???  It was one of those moment that you pinch
yourself & I will never forget it.  The discharge packs issue *tried* to
resurface once, but have remained discontinued for the past 8 years!
NEVER, EVER, EVER think that *ONE* little ol' letter can't make a difference!

Sandy Arnold, BS, IBCLC
(currently no-mail for Lactnet)

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html