To share a personal experience....Years ago I was on a steering committee for
what would be a breastfeeding task force.  There were several docs on the
steering committee.  We were discussing the incidence of illness in breastfed
vs formula fed infants, the benefits of breastfeeding, risks formula, etc.
One doctor questioned our methods of persuading doctors to help our cause. .
.his comment....what doctor is going to encourage breastfeeding because it
decreases illness, when illness in babies is how he gets paid.  Now, one
doctor said this, no other doctor decried the horror of the statement. . .and
if one doctor will say it aloud, how many think it quietly?

Is this a conspiracy?  Well, maybe not a conspiracy. Maybe it is something
worse.  I think it is unethical, irresponsible, negligent and unacceptable
behavior that would not be tolerated in any other field without a public
outcry.  But, because we are just talking about the health and welfare of
women and children, who bothers to point it out.  Every day I hear mothers
tell me docs have instructed them to do something that is totally unnecessary
and/or detrimental to breastfeeding. Things as basic as how often a baby
should eat and sleep, starting solids at 2 weeks for a longer sleep stretch,
and the usual nonsense about breastmilk being useless after 6 mos, when it
seems it turns to water.   If this is not a conspiracy to keep themselves
employed, than it is really much worse.  A conspiracy makes sense.  Lots of
money involved from the formula companies, the physician care paid for as fee
for service in the US, the managed care interfering with costs, etc. can all
be looked at with the same criticism as the tobacco industry.   But
ignorance?  Inability to learn new ideas?  New methods of treatment?  Good
think cardiologists and oncologists have decided to follow research, seek new
information, learn new ways to treat and diagnose, and not feel they should
not change because the way things were before were okay for them. .. .   But
I am to believe the pediatric and obstetrics health care providers are not as
capable and intelligent?  I don't know.  I think I would prefer to see docs
as smart and savvy people who KNOW their stuff, and consciously choose to
ignore it, otherwise I have to accept that I entrust my gynecological and
pediatric care to physicians who may very well be incompetent or at least
easily swayed by advertising and propaganda of an industry with an obvious
conflict of interest.  I feel safer viewing their practice as part of a
conspiracy.  I am used to thinking in terms of who benefits financially from
the decision. . .It is my "American" upbringing. Huh.

I don't know.  I think that in the US medical world where a fee for service
financial system is in place, it is very important to always look for the
money.  Advertising is a powerful force, and docs are humans too.  I can see
how they could turn towards a belief in the wondrous product of formula over
breastfeeding with the slick propaganda presented.  One thing I do see, OB
and Pediatric care is not the same as other care.  Just reading that ob's are
now seeing the c-sec as an ideal delivery method and presenting induction and
c-secs even for casual reasons as good and fine choices, makes me wonder.

Of course, none of this applies to the wonderful pediatrician I have for my
own children, or my ob, or any of the wonderful doctors on this list who by
their very existence give me hope.  Often I read the words of the doctors
here on Lactnet, and think. . .well....see this doctor knows this. . .now why
don't ALL the docs know this? Sometimes a mom will call me for information
and tell me something about her doctor, and I will want to jump for joy.
But, usually, I just shake my head and wonder how I will share the correct
information without making her doctor look like he needs to read up on his
lactation information. . .maybe starting with his own organization's
recommendations.....

This is also tied into women feeling empowered and claiming the right to
receive proper care from their health care providers.  But, in USA, I don't
see this happening any time soon.  As a nation, most are easily swayed by
advertising and media, and even a short blurb on a local news broadcast gets
believed as fact.  Because of this, most women don't even KNOW what quality
care would be or what really is best for them or their babies.  To find out,
they have to do some serious intense research on their own.  This is a sad
reality, and hardly leads me to hope for any improvement in the near future.

This is only my opinion as a consumer of the medical establishment and person
listening to many mothers.

Best,
Pam MazzellaDiBosco, IBCLC
Birthing and Beyond, Inc.
FL, USA

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