I have to respond to Ruth Wilson's experience since I had a similar one...off
for a few days and when I return find that the M---J---- rep has been there
complete with muffins and donuts with a fresh supply of her cheesy little bags
(love that water bottle!) to kick off this exciting little contest.  Our ass't
director has hung a reminder poster in the break room and on a M---J----bag in
the supply room with the formula so nurses will not forget to put their
tags/names inside every time they give a bag.  (I just accidently typed gag and
almost left it!)  There will be two lucky winners of a "stress relief bag"
whatever that is.  This contest is giving me stress!  Anyway, what to do?  I
decided to calmly, without speaking to anyone about it, copy the paragraph in
our policy which says (I'm paraphrasing since I don't have it in front of me at
home)"...breastfeeding mothers will be given only gift packs which promote
breastfeeding.  Commercial breastfeeding gift packs will be given only with
medical need  or  mother's request."   I taped these to the top of each poster
and wrote in red lettering above "Formula-feeding moms only unless per policy."
Nothing has been said, but I think I made my point.  Hang in there, Ruth.  We
"squeaky wheels" need to be there.

As for the R--- booklet, our rep. sent me a copy recently for my reaction.  For
some reason, he values my opinion even tho I'm consistently  brutally honest in
our conversations.  Anyway, I scanned it, and it is well written, but my first
reaction was and is the same as Alicia's--why do ABM companies think it is their
mission to give breastfeeding information?  Of course, the answer is that they
hope to capture the market at some point of that growing body of breastfeeding
mothers.   IMO there are enough credible sources of information out there that
we really shouldn't have to resort to ABM companies for this, even if it is
"free."  We have written much of our own material at our hospital and order good
pamphlets as the budget will allow.   Every patient is offered a
M-----Breastfeeding Discharge Kit or electric kit to suit her needs, on standard
orders, usually reimburseable.

Now, with that said, lest I sound too perfect, I will confess that we are using
the R--- cooler bags for our moms with babies in NICU, many of whom are low
income and might not have the proper equipment to transport their precious milk
back in for their babies.  We consider this a medical need.  We have also given
them to mothers who will be returning to work or school, often very soon,  and
are uncertain how they might be able to continue to breastfeed.  Routinely give
them out to act as  "marketing reps" for a company?  No way.

Diane Bechtel, IBCLC
Hospital based LC in Indiana
E-mail [log in to unmask]