Even if you as an IBCLC have no qualms associating your good name with a
company that is a known violator of the WHO code for ethical marketing of
breastmilk substitutes, you might want to think about what your decision
does to the reputation of all others who bear the same credential.  It makes
it that much harder for the rest of us to maintain professional credibility
as independent advocates for the health of mothers and children.

I wonder if there are any consumers who decide NOT to contact a professional
precisely because they found her business card in the same bag as a free
sample of formula?  I know I am a deviant, and I hardly ever share the
opinion of the majority in a population, but I would have been such a
consumer.  I doubt that I am the only person ever to live in the US who
feels this way.  Women are smart, and lots of them are very PR-savvy.

When I had my first baby in Seattle, I did get a gift pack from the
hospital, with info about diaper service, disposable diapers, bronzeing of
baby shoes, infant portrait photography, perhaps a childrens' book club, and
maybe some insurance, can't remember, but what was conspicuously absent was
any advertising for formula, bottles, and weaning foods.  I was not offered
formula for my baby in the hospital, nor was I encouraged to limit her time
at the breast.  She stayed with me the whole time, and all the measurements
of vitals that had to be done because my membranes had ruptured two days
before she was born, were carried out with her on my body.  It was the only
hospital in the region that didn't hand out free formula and, oddly enough,
at the time it also had the lowest CS and epidural rates.  Strange
coincidence, eh?

It saddens me to realize that in the 25 years since this took place, things
have actually gotten worse, and I don't know whether my old hospital has
continued to stay independent of formula companies in the materials they
provide for new mothers.  I hope so.

Rachel Myr
On another one of her trips down mammary lane, in 
Kristiansand, Norway

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html