In the middle of this discussion about Medela's code violations, has anyone looked at some of the videos available on line about what's happening in the Phillipines with breastfeeding?  Have we given up on curtailing the marketing of formula and facilitating long-term breastfeeding worldwide because we can't fix the situation?  It is difficult to tease out the difference between social and personal responsibility - and I see a lot of avoidance of personal responsibility in the population I deal with.  Some people need encouragement - others need a kick in the pants!  A lot of people are stubborn and are not thinking of what's best for the long term, only what gets me from point A to point B NOW.  I've been told that in my area, moms are telling the WIC lady that they are bottle-feeding to get the free formula.  They are actually breastfeeding, but sell the formula at the Flea Market for a little extra cash!  What a way to work the system!   

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ilene Fabisch
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 5:59 AM
Subject: Re: Medela issues

I had my meeting today with my Medela rep.  I've known and trusted her for a long time.
We had a very frank discussion, separating out Medela's view from her own.
I'm not sure I have the energy to report and post here everything we covered and I'm not sure what I have to report would be heard because it seems so many are already on the anti-medela band wagon.  For now I will say it's not all that it may seem on the surface. My medela rep struggled with some ethical issues and states that after doing much research and speaking with those higher up in Medela feels confident that she can still remain employed without compromising her ethics.  She asked me to do the research too...I have not had the time yet. She also asked me to look at both the Medela webpage and the Ameda web page and compare...she sees little difference. She is a wonderful person who has given much to the breastfeeding community both locally where she lives and people call her and come to her with problems and with free product to WIC offices, LC's etc. She did state that one of Medela's new initiatives is to focus on the NICU because
that is where many pumps are being used and mom's really need them.   
She also stated they
have a partnership/initiative in working with WIC.  I have taken some of the education programs offered to educate WIC staff and they are excellent (AND they don't over promote their products). She is sorry for the ILCA thing but also gave me some background I wasn't aware of.
They feel the changes in their marketing materials they were requested to make, others were not being held to the same bar.  One thing she said was they were told their bottle were too "colorful".
She reiterated the enormous cost of the research they are committed to and that they are really the only ones doing it and it needs to be done.  We talked about how they can't always control how their product is being marketed on all the webpages by other companies/organizations.
I expressed some of my concerns ie: disrespect for the LC community and ethical questions and she encouraged me to write to 2 people higher up.  That they NEED to hear this (from ALL of us).
They aren't a bunch of money hungry mean people unwilling to bend, they are a company, profit is definately a goal BUT they don't intentionally want to hurt LC's or breastfeeding rates or market poorly.
We talked briefly (I had a prenatal class to teach) about their mission is still the same as it's always been "get breastmilk to babies", and we talked about how the connect part is missing and so important and how this generation doesn't seem to want to make the sacrifices to be with their babies and feed at breast the same way other generations may have.....and that that is NOT Medela's fault.  (I had this same conversation with the Hygeia rep, yesterday was a big rep day for me!) I'm sure a lot of you will have a lot to say on this.  She also mentioned this controversy is only apparently taking hold in some parts of the country and that some of the Reps look at her with "deer in the headlights look" because they aren't hearing any of this.

Because I've been asked to do some research I want to ask Marsha W. a question.
Who is NABA? Is it only you? and who defines the WHO code specifically?
I'm lead to believe it is only you and you make all the recommendations.

Ilene Fabisch, IBCLC/RLC
Clinical Director Mothers' Milk Bank of New England Gentle Beginnings Lactation Assistance

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