I have been a lurker for quite a while, but nevertheless enjoy reading the
posts. I am an Australian neonatal nurse working in a 12 cot special care
nursery.  I have an interest in lactation and qualified as an IBCLC two
years ago.

I have had concerns for quite a while regarding the sample bags (Bounty
Bags) given out at our hospital in the postnal ward--these are apparently
distributed to over 90% of new mothers in Australia so its big, INFLUENTIAL
business.  Athough no formula  samples  are in the bag, the information book
contains advertisements for teats and bottles and encourages commencing
solids from 4 months, practices which are against the WHO code and undermine
exclusive breastfeeding. I also raised some other content concerns. I have
written a personal letter to the distribution company as well as the
paediatrican who they state has read and approved the editorial content of
the book.  He claimed he had no knowledge of what advertisements they used
and for me to address my concerns directly to the distribution company
(which I already had done!!).

The Paediatrician , while justifying his opinion that its OK to start solids
at 4 months, did state that if I know of controlled trials or epidemiologic
studieds which showed the infants in developed countres that were fed other
infants foods from 4 months are "at higher risk of malnutrition, poor
maternal bonding, disease or death" to give him the evidence and he would
use it as the basis of change for the next edition. So I am asking for your
help so source all the evidence I can--obviously the WHO recommendation and
Australia's own natiional breastfeeding guidelines are not enough.

I am also looking for further evidence for safe co-sleeping. I have the
UNICEF publication and James McKennas work but this paediatricians stance
(and again written in "that publication") that co-sleeping is
contra-indicated in all instances.  The fact that breastfeeding is enhanced
is does not matter--he doesn't believe it is safe under any circumstances .

Any finally I need further references regarding the inadvisablilty of
heating milk in the microwave--again our own national guidelines say it is
contra-indicated and I am aware of research that shows a marked decrease in
antiinfective factors of EBM.

I believe, if I can give a solid evidence based reply, that the information
in the 18 000 books that are distributed monthly will be changed to a become
more breastfeeding friendly so any help any of you can give me in this
regard would be greatly appreciated
Many thanks
Marian Rigney RN IBCLC

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