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Subject:
From:
"Jessica Harrison Carlyon, CLE" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 1 May 2002 12:21:20 EDT
Content-Type:
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Hello, ladies!  I have finally written a letter to the "powers that be" at my
local hospital about that unfortunate formula gift bag I received recently
after the birth of my child.  The letter I wrote is posted below for your
perusal.  The hospital and doctor names have been changed.

Dear Mr. Smith:

       I was recently a patient at General Hospital while giving birth to my
third child.  I am pleased to report that I had a wonderful experience there.
 Thanks to the professionalism and expertise of Dr. Jane Miller and Dr.
Rachel Harris, I was able to have the most fabulous footling breech VBAC
birth, and I am only too happy to recommend General to my friends.
       However, I would like to share my deep disappointment in General as
well.  Upon my discharge I was handed a complimentary "discharge pack."
Included in my discharge pack were several formula coupons, breastmilk
storaqge containers marked "Similac Formula," and breastmilk ice packs marked
"Ross Pediatrics."  In fact, the ice packs that were suppsoed to help mothers
store their breastmilk had the following printed right on them, "We
appreciate your support and use of Ross products, including Similac With
Iron, Isomil, and Similac NeoCare Infant Formulas."  Even the discharge pack
itself bore the Ross logo, and all of the nurses who attended me had formula
advertisements attached to their name badges.
       I was so shocked to receive these items and to see these
advertisements, as I had formed a different opinion of General prior to my
birth there.  Dr. Miller's General Hospital clinic office was covered in
excellent fliers, posters, and brochures endorsing and encouraging
breastfeeding.  I had also seen several similar items in the hospital itself.
 I am confused about your healthful and positive promotion of breastfeeding
before my birth and your dichotomous and compromising promotion of artificial
baby milk afterward.
       How in good conscience can General give free advertising for a product
that has been scientifically proven to cause a myriad of lifelong health
issues for children and has also been scientifically proven to compromise the
breastfeeding efforts of mothers?  How could General allow themselves to be
used by a firm who depends on General's hired employees to do their product
promotion for them at no cost to Ross and at both a financial and ethical
cost to General?
       There was never any question in my mind that I was going to
breastfeed, but most mothers are inexperienced and unsure about
breastfeeding.  We live in a society where bottlefeeding is the norm and lack
of self-esteem and support causes many mothers to be unsuccessful in their
breastfeeding efforts.  Why would General want to compound this situation,
making it that much harder for women and putting its smallest and most
vulnerable clients (newborn infants) at risk?
       No formula company is in any way interested in promoting good
breastfeeding information because they are only in business for one thing--to
make money!  They cannot make money if mothers are breastfeeding and not
using their formulas.  So I ask, where does General stand on the issue of
breastfeeding?  It seems to me that you are sending out conflicting messages.

       A joint statement from WHO and UNICEF states, "The competent
authorities should ensure that such 'discharge packs' contain nothing that
night interefere with the succesful initiation and establishment of
breastfeeding..."  I find it hard to believe that General wants to promote
the use of artificial baby milk so Ross Pediatrics can make more money.
       I implore you to re-examine your discharge packs and to abolish
whatever hospital policy initiates the handout of those packs.  I beg you to
establish a new policy that completely eliminates the advertisement of ANY
formula company's products or materials (including on the nurses' name
badges) for ANY mother delivering at General.  Other progressive hospitals
have already taken this step to show they favor breastfeeding and stand on
the side of good health promotion.  Please help send the message that
breastfeeding is best for babies and mothers.
       I hope my letter inspires some action for change, and I eagerly await
your response.  I sincerely appreciate your time and attention.  Again, I
thank you for my great birth experience.

Sincerely,

Jessica Harrison Carlyon

I will keep you posted on any response I receive from them.  I want to add a
special thanks to Sandy Arnold for posting her own well-worded letter to
Lactnet and for allowing me to use it as a framework for my letter.  Here's
to mothers and babies everywhere!  I can only do what one person can do, but
one person can do a lot!


Jessica Harrison Carlyon, MBA, CD, CLE

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