David... Thanks for your thought provoking post....in your post you commented...

"A recent post admonished the 3 IBCLCs who authored Ross's newest booklet for
the breastfeeding mother.  While I certainly agree that we must look
suspiciously at a formula company's breastfeeding "help" I think that the
current booklet is rather well done, and certainly an improvement over their
previous Guide.  "

I think that what is curious is why abm companies feel it is necessary to
provide breastfeeding information in the first place?. To me, this seems
rather interesting. What is the motivation? Certainly not out of desire to
help mothers breastfeed. The only reason can be that mothers who breastfeed
and "fail" ( I hate that term. : / )...most certainly turn to abm.

"Yes, yes, formula company discharge packs are bad, bad bad.  My boss, though,
reviewed the journal articles about discharge packs that I gave him and called
them "weak." "

I cannot comment on this piece of research, but I know that these packs most
certainly ** do** suggest to mothers that just in case they can't **cut
it**, Good old xxx company is there to bail you out.I cannot think of
another example where such advertising is allowed to be direct marketed to
clients/patients.  If the abm packs and written info are not substantive
marketing, why would they go to the expense and time of producing them?  It
all adds up to the same thing...more customers for them, more income, etc.
The message to women in our culture and in many other cultures is clear.
Breastfeeding is something women "try". It is NOT something anyone does for
any length of time .  This message is enhanced and amplified by the use of
free formula packs in hospitals and in health care offices.

" He and I both agree that, for our population, prenatal education
is most likely to influence feeding decisions.  I am still trying to get the
formula out of discharge, but, as many of you have found,  this is not easy."

No, it is not easy, and I find this a most interesting example.  If I became
ill, and was hospitalized..and had surgery...and  the hospital served me
some type of soda,or some sort of other food,  would they expect to get that
food FREE and then concurrently  send me home with   free gift packs of that
same food, hoping that I would then purchase it?  The answer to that is No.
Hospitals BUY food for adult patients.   Why then  are abm packs and free
formula allowable and  encouraged? Why not buy the formula? Why allow this
hand in glove relationship between a HEALTH CARE institution and a
pharmaceutical company?   If an adult is sick, are there any comparable
"giftpacks" that are sent home with the patient...? Not to my knowledge
there aren't. So curious. Why do hospitals allow them with babies? What is
the rationale?  What are the ethics behind this? Am I missing something
here? Perhaps  money is the only criterium that is considered?

"My point is simply that we can not dismiss _carte blanche_ all things connected
with ABM companies; although we may not like how they make their money, they
are there when I need something for the kids with metabolics diseases who can't
be exclusively breastfed.."

It is true that sometimes, babies need such "formulas".  I worked in
pediatrics for years.  I am aware of this.  Unfortunately David, I do not
see that as a redeeming feature in  any way. They make plenty of money
there too.  They are not in it for altruistic reasons.

Thanks for the note. I find the discussion stimulating.

Kathleen


Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet (In Vermont)
LACTNET WWW site: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html
LACTNET archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html