Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
I got a call on my cell today from a man who said he worked for Materna, the
biggest Israeli formula company. First, he asked if I had ever heard of
them, (Ha, Ha, what a hoot) and then said he got my name because he knows I
deal in Medela products and wanted to know if I sell Silicon Nipples.
Apparently, they want to start giving out silicon nipples for free in the
hospitals. Why he thought to call me is still very strange. Like I would
sell thousands of nipples to him, I am just a private practice LC. At first
I was waiting for someone to scream "April Fools!" although it is June 20th
here!
I almost flipped. I told the guy why I wanted absolutely nothing to do with
his company, how they are jeopardizing the health of babies and mothers,
etc. He seemed really surprised to hear this. He had never heard of any
research showing free formula made a difference, and was really interested
when I told him it should be a paid for, prescription product only. I then
explained to him why his company wanted to hand out silicon nipples, why it
is a tool that belongs in the hands of an IBCLC working with a mother, etc.
He seemed surprised that this was the motive of his company. He told me
he really did not
know that his company does anything to undermine breastfeeding in this
country. And no idea that a WHO code exists, and they are seriously
violating it.
I told him if I was in his position, I would have serious ethical problems
with doing my job.
I told him the results of its misuse is the exact reason his company wants
to give
them out, to "hook" women on formula.
I really was not sure if this was a joke.
Is he just dumb? Or an older man who really did not know anything and is
just doing his job? We must be succeeding in something in this country if
this is how low a formula company is willing to stoop.
That means someone in that company had to see all the research about silicon
nipples and decide this was the way to go?
Still shocked and amazed,
Jessica Billowitz, IBCLC
Israel
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