Our So. California (Unnamed HMO) Regional Breastfeeding Task force  had a
lovely experience trying to change the formula companies *breastfeeding*
 discharge packs for moms. Although we didn't want any dc packs, we had to
COMPROMISE with administration. When our nurses first stopped giving out the
diaper bags to nursing mothers, the moms complained, loudly, right up the
line. Why were other moms getting nice gifts. They felt snubbed. Even though
we tried to educate on the dangers of dc packs in BF classes. So the nurses
tried just giving the bag, emptied of offending material. Once again, moms
compaired each other's gifts and complained.
It took the entire task force several months before we could get everyone to
agree.
The committee decided on a dc pack that contained a sipper water bottle for
mom with no logo, disposible bra pads, company toy, a small can of powdered
formula (4oz) with a florecent orange label that says something like
<<<Warning using formula can inhibit the establishment of breastfeeding.
Contact your provider before using any formula. >>> No nipples, bottles, no
BF books or coupons were allowed in the kit. Three major companies agreed.
Another idea was to have a basic manual pump (that could be upgraded if the
mother chose to rent an electric pump later on) sent home with each mother.
Not surprising the companies were also quite willing to include the pump, of
our choice, in their dc bag kit.  The formula co. agreed to pay for the cost
of the kits.
 However, the two major pump companies refused, and  rightly so. Even if the
kits were not placed in the dc bags, they couldn't risk selling large numbers
of pumps to formula companies.  Citing the WHO code and Baby-friendly
movement. Allowing their kits in a formula co. bag would be a form of
approval. They also felt they would take a beating from the LC community
because the pump company would be associated with the formula.
 So we looked for a way to have the hospital purchase the pumps themselves.
Using stats on healthier babies fewer ER visits etc... to justify the
expense.  The cost: $12-17 each. In our medical center alone it would cost
$2280-3230 per month. Multiply that by 25 medical centers and the
administration nearly had appoplexy.
Several of the task force members also felt that giving every mother a pump
sent the wrong message. They felt it was important not to give moms the
impression that they need *gadgets* to nurse. So the idea died in committee.
The real kicker came when the new dc packs appeared on the post partum unit.
Many of the nurses were giving moms BOTH packs. We had to rationalize with
the nurses that they shouldn't be doing the job of advertizing for a formula
co. That did the trick.
I fear that our efforts to compromise gave the formula companies a green
light to introduce these new packs or  variations on the theme to other
hospitals. All in the name of appearing to support breastfeeding.
 I would like to know if the new packs you are seeing resemble the one I
discribed. Or if anyone has heard that a large HMO's LC's designed and
approved these new packs. I can just hear the sales pitch now! "So and such
HMO's LC's, designed our new breastfeeding dc pack."   :(
Marie Davis
PS. Our hospitals contract with outside childbirth educators for classes. A
clause in their contracts prohibits the use or disemination of all ABM
educational materials in their classes. This has stopped one distrubution
point for the *club sign up cards*. If mom filled out the cards they received
a case of formula  and tons of formula co literature delivered right to their
homes.