I sent this one off to WebMD.  Now I don't think my blood pressure can take
spending any more time looking at that site!

'I am disturbed about several things on the E------ section of your site.
The photo in connection with 'birth' shows a baby apparently asleep and
seemingly in a prone position, with a bottle in its mouth.  It is not clear
from the photo that anyone is cradling the baby, despite the adult hands
which also are shown.  This could lead parents to try two practices which
constitute health risks-- propping bottles and positioning babies to sleep
prone.

In the same section, birth options are mentioned, including birth centers,
without the appearance of the word 'midwife' anywhere.

I am also concerned about the cosy relationship between your site and the
manufacturer of, in their own words, 'the largest selling infant formula'.
While it is clear to me that the E------ info is basically advertising for
their product, I first heard of this site through a discussion list for
lactation consultants, where we were alerted to a commentary on the WebRN
section in which breastfeeding was dealt with in a way which made me wonder
whether the author had been paid by industry to write it.  The kindest way
to describe the opinion expressed there is 'misinformed', but I fear it may
have been willfully so.  On the screen with this commentary was absolutely
nothing to indicate a connection with industry.  I was still a bit shocked
to find that Enfamil is a major sponsor, as I thought such overt propaganda
for commercial purposes was a rarity, even in the US.

Another of your sponsors has been exposed here in Norway for putting
partisan political advertising on its consumer products.

I will caution anyone I know who is seeking info on the net to take all info
on your site with several large grains of salt, given the nature and extent
of commercial influence on it.'

I closed by telling them I edit a journal for midwives with a regular column
reviewing websites and that we would include a mention of their site, and
not with a glowing review either!
Rachel Myr
Kristiansand

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