Lactnetters,
  I am beginning to wonder if the Ross Labs booklet is going to be a means
by which we (IBCLC's & LLLL's, and other bf advocates) will be even further
separated from medical folks with whom we work.
  Yesterday I sent a post expressing concern and question about the booklet
to a ped. friend who is bf her second child (10 mo., no abm at all), member
of LLL, works diligently with her partner (another bf ped) to get moms going
& keep them bf, fights to change hosp. procedures, etc., etc.  She has the
books, thinks they are excellent, really likes that they have no mention of
abm, do mention LLLI, and will use them.  She also abhors what Nestle does
here and abroad.  She is caught in the dilemma of using for her patients
what she sees as an excellent, FREE booklet vs expending lots of time and
money reinventing the wheel.  Get serious, what would I expect her to do?!
  I am NOT saying we should fall into line and advocate this new booklet.  I
agree completely with Linda Smith that Ross wants to be "innocent by
association" (very well said, Linda).  I think Ross is being EXTREMELY
CLEVER in the writing of this book.  It is very easy and appropriate to
discard the books with obvious errors.  But a book like the new Ross one is
going to be very widely accepted because it contains correct bf info, is
written by IBCLC's, mentions LLL, doesn't have the standard when-to-use-abm
suggestions, and is FREE.  In my mind, that makes it even more insideous.  I
believe Abbott/Ross is counting on people's thoughts going something like,
"Wow, Ross has finally given in and written a great bf booklet for doctors
and hospitals to give to bf moms.  They must be pretty nice folks who really
do want mothers to bf.  If (when) I 'need' to supplement,  I think I'll try
their formula, it's probably good, too."    I have asked my friend to think
about subtle hints from the Ross folks:  in return for giving the books at
no cost, does the Ross rep ask ANYTHING in return, like SUGGESTING that they
give out formula samples just as an extra courtesy, prominently display
advertising materials, giving him names/addresses of new moms, etc (probably
already got that from OB or hosp. at pre-registration).
  I think Ross has finally learned a lesson well:  you catch more flies with
honey than with vinegar.  What bothers me is that they will be seen as the
good guys:  going the extra mile to make sure moms have correct info, and WE
will be seen as the bad guys when we don't endorse the book or want to look
at Ross's motives.  I'm afraid the response to us may be, "Aren't you all
ever satisfied?"  Makes us look bad, but I am NOT suggesting compromise.
Just my opinions.  Sara Reuning in Bristol, TN, feeling, as the saying goes,
"caught between a rock and a hard place".
   P.S.  I had saved the June post about Abbott/Ross's application for a
foreign trade zone, and posted to her the body of the newspaper article.
Just a little attempt at consciousness-raising.