Re: writing to Consumer Reports about
breast pumps.
My experience with Consumer Reports is that
they are difficult to contact. Perhaps if we sent
letters to the editor about evaluating breast pumps,
they would respond. The more letters the better. Below
is a sample letter that I sent them a number of years
ago. At the time I got no response, but if enough of us
write perhaps they'll pay attention this time.
Feel free to use the letter as a guide or inspiration, but
it is better for each person to compose his
or her own letter.
The address for letters to the editor is:
Consumer Reports
P.O. Box 2015
Yonders, NY 10703-9015
Dear Ms. Julia Kagan,
The purpose of this letter is to suggest that Consumer
Reports conduct a rating of breast pumps for nursing
mothers.
Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics published
a policy statement (Pediatrics, Vol. 100 #6 Dec. 1997
pp. 1035-1039) regarding the benefits of breastfeeding
for mother and baby and recommending that women breastfeed
their babies for at least 6-12 months. The guidelines
suggest that pediatricians "encourage employers to provide
appropriate facilities and adequate time in the workplace
for breast-pumping." This policy statement has received
much attention in the popular and professional press
new mothers, health care professionals, employers and
women's groups grapple with the practical and long term
implications of the AAP's statement.
As increasing numbers of women return to work while their
babies are still infants, and more women want to continue
breastfeeding their babies past the first few weeks of
life, they seek ways to combine breastfeeding and outside
employment or studies. This often involves renting or
purchasing a breast pump to express breastmilk to feed
to their babies when the mother cannot be present.
In my work with these mothers, there is often much
confusion about the best pumps to use, whether to purchase
or rent pumps, and from whom it is best to rent one. In
addition, more corporations are realizing the benefits of
breastfeeding in terms of increased worker loyalty and
decreased employee absenteeism to care for sick children.
As a result they are implementing lactation support programs
including purchasing hospital grade breast pumps for their
nursing mothers' rooms. They, too, need accurate objective
information about which pumps can best suit their needs.
The Consumer's Union has developed excellent and well
respected system for evaluating products and services on
the market. A Consumer Reports analysis of breast pumps
would benefit many new mothers, babies, health care
professionals, and companies.
Thank you for your consideration.
If people would like to send me copies of the letters
they send, I'd be happy to collect them all in one place
so we have some kind of record of this effort.
Naomi Bar-Yam
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