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Subject:
From:
Darillyn Starr <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 16 Mar 1997 17:27:00 -0700
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I agree with those who have a hard time believing that the formula
companies are committed to helping mothers breastfeed.  I have seen too
many horrible examples in the tapes and literature that have been left
at my husband's office, and elsewhere.

Some of the stuff is really well disguised.  Nearly everything that is
said may be accurate, but they always plant something subtle that would
cause confusion or undermine the mother's confidence.  Like one tape
where an LC says to a new mother who is nursing, "Do you ever worry if
he is getting enough?".  If she went on to tell the mother how she could
make sure the baby was getting enough, it would be fine, but she
doesn't.  Even if everything else that is said is true, something like
that can be just enough to cause problems, and they are well aware of
that.

Of course, there are cases where ABM is helpful and even necessary, but
the formula companies know darn well that they are not just targeting
those that really need it.  Their lip service to supporting
breastfeeding is, I believe, due to the fact that promoting
bottlefeeding over breastfeeding is not currently the "politically
correct" thing to do.  Basically, I see them as sheep in wolves'
clothing.  Money, not the health of babies, is their prime objective.

 I do give some of their brochures and tapes to adoptive parents, who
are among those who really need formula anyway, usually even if they are
nursing.  But I do not give them to women who are giving birth and
prefer that my husband's patients be given information sheets from Ameda
Egnell, Medela etc. rather than those provided by formula companies,
although I do not get to have alot to say about that because of his
partners wife and several other office employees who choose to
bottlefeed from day one and think I am a "wierdo" for going to the
effort to nurse my adopted babies. One even refused to provide a drop of
breastmilk for her critically ill newborn, which I think is obscene!

My rant for the day!

Aloha,
Darillyn

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