Be aware that the free formula is not the only "gift" to hospitals.  

At our hospital the formula company pays $60 per patient - which totals
about 1/3 the nursery budget - as well as giving all the free formula the
hospital needs for the babies in NICU and all the water,etc.

They also sponsor professional education seminars and trips for the
physicians and administrators.

Similar to cigarettes and drugs -  I think we need to continue our work on
the consumers - the moms.

 We have not won the drug war by making it illegal or expensive - but each
of us is winning our own 'family' drug war by keeping in touch with our
kids and teaching them why drugs need to be avoided.  Not all of us win,
due to environmental influences - so we need to work on them, also - but
the small battles - in our classes, our offices and even in the supermarket
- need to continue and expand.

This week I have been "slapped in the face"  by one of the officials at the
hospital here.  Do I turn the other cheek?  Do I stomp off?  I don't know
yet...  

But I did get two "uppers" also this week:
 - 42 health care professionals attending the 14 hour couse we are offering
on two consecutive Thursdays
 - and a mom-created breastfeeding support group in my home town invited me
to attend - 3 pregnant women, and breastfeeding babies aged 2 months, 6
months, 9 months, 12 months and a mom whose child was not there (age 3). 
What fun! 

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Puerto Rico
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