Linda Brubeck wrote:

"They make millions from breastfeeding but secretly want mothers to formula
fed. Shame on them."

On the contrary, I don't think Medela in any way is promoting formula.  They
are promoting bottle-feeding breastmilk as the norm.  They want mothers to
think that human milk is the best food for babies, so why would you give
formula when you can easily pump human milk for anyone else to give to your
baby?  Why do you think they've invested so much into producing the most
scientifically advanced breast pump and discovering what makes human milk so
superior to artificial baby milk?  More and more I find mothers who are
struggling with breastfeeding in the first days asking to start pumping
instead because it's really all about the milk, isn't it?  I find their
marketing tactics so similar to the baby milk manufacturers playing up the
fact that most mothers have to return to work so they will, of course, be
giving formula, so don't you want the best substitute possible?  All pump
companies want to make pumping breastmilk seem easy and normal, not just
Medela.  Medela has merely started to very visibly market and promote their
"breastmilk feeding system".  

I think your post was meant to be satirical, Linda, but maybe we should be
concentrating more on hand expression and how to deliver breastmilk without
a bottle and nipple in breastfeeding classes so it will be seen as normal,
not "weird".  I for one will be heavily promoting direct breastfeeding as
the norm and best "breastmilk feeding system" at my next class.  As Diane
Wiessinger says,  it's about the relationship, not the product.  

Linda Anderegg, BSN, RNC, IBCLC in Chicago


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