Naomi,

You have hit on a connection that I have spent much time thinking about and
researching.  The tobacco industry is the closest correlation to the formula
industry.

What I really need is credible research supporting the argument that formula
is harmful and that the formula companies know it.

Alexis

>
>Date:    Tue, 18 Dec 2001 13:42:59 -0500
>From:    Naomi Bar-Yam <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: legal actions
>
>I have been following the legal actions conversation
>with some interest.  The tobacco industry situation
>comes to mind. That was (and still is) YEARS of litigation,
>even after it was proven that using cigarettes according
>to directions caused all the health problems we all
>know about. And there is publice sentiment against
>smoking, we don't even have that advantage at the moment.
>
>When you take on corporate America, you are taking
>on very deep pockets, who have a lot of reasons
>($$$) to want to fight this legally.
>
>One thing we can learn from the anti-tobacco movement
>is how to make formula feeding unacceptable similar
>to how cigarette smoking has been made unacceptable in
>many parts of this country.
>   Naomi Bar-Yam
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date:    Tue, 18 Dec 2001 14:15:10 EST
>From:    Maureen Allen <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: NICU reform
>
>Hello all, Just to comment here--one of the reasons that Kathy and I
>believe
>helped our unit become more successful for breastfeeding was that WE CAME
>FROM WITHIN.  We were both NICU nurses in this particular unit for many
>years.  We had worked nights and Christmas, and gone through many personal
>trials and tribulations with these nurses.  THEY HAD RESPECT FOR US
>ALREADY.
>They trusted us not to do anything to hurt the babies.  Therefore, we
>easily
>got buy-in for the things we wanted to do.  NICU nurses, right or wrong,
>treat these babies as their own.  They are scared that you, or the surgeon,
>or the optho, or the neuro or the intern, etc. will harm their babies.
>And,
>I might add, not without some very good reasons for that.  Premature or
>critically ill infants need special handling and respect for stress cues.
>Having seen other medical(and lactation) professionals work with these
>infants without any respect or regard for their special issues, I know
>exactly where they are coming from......What may seem to be perfectly good
>practice with healthy, full-term babies(and I am not entirely convinced of
>that, always) probably is not in a preterm infant's best interests.  I have
>also seen mothers of preterms(and heard of many other stories in other
>hospitals) being treated very roughly by "professionals" whose main area of
>expertise is not NICU.  Another issue would be a huge lack of
>knowledge...once we role-modelled breastfeeding teaching, positioning and
>latch (without shoving it down their throats), the nurses began to do it on
>their own.  NICU nurses tend to be well-educated, intelligent people,
>usually
>who've been around forever(we call them fossils), and may not want to
>listen
>to that whippersnapper go on and on about breastfeeding.   It doesn't
>really
>mean that they don't care.  Once Kathy and I started our positions in the
>NICU, several nurses "came out of the closet" and started promoting
>breastfeeding in a big way.  So, I do agree that many NICUs need lots of
>help
>with breastfeeding.
>1. Find nurses(and neos) in the unit who are willing to take a stand--need
>more than one.  NICU nurses come in large groups(we have 180! of them).
>2. Have them openly discuss breastfeeding and MILK  in a positive way,
>citing
>references as they go.  The science of breastmilk will really grab their
>attention.
>3. Leave research-based articles around in the break room.  Take Cosmo out.
>Eventually they'll have to read them.
>4. Invite them to see what it is you do with breastfeeding mothers.  When
>they refuse, look for scrubs and sneakers on the other side of the screen
>and
>speak more loudly.  They are listening.
>5. If your unit does any mandatory education, become part of it.  We've
>taught breastpumping, alternative feeding methods including nipple
>shields(no
>fruit or vegetables were thrown), and this year, we'll do assessing latch,
>suck and swallow.  Yes, the cart before the horse, but remember, most of
>them
>are just starting to touch mothers' breasts.
>6. Have a sense of humor.  Breastfeeding is meant to be FUN!
>
>Really, all kidding aside, this should help.  It won't happen in a year or
>two.  I'm hoping that we'll have a 100% breastfeeding friendly NICU by
>retirement.  I'm 41, by the way, so there's a really long way to go, but
>what
>strides our NICU has taken!
>
>Happy
>Holidays to all!
>
>Maureen Allen RN, BSN, IBCLC
>
>Lactation Consultant-NICU
>
>Brigham and Women's Hospital
>
>Boston, MA
>PS.  Many of you have emailed me about protocols and policies.  As you can
>see, we've been very busy taking care of breastfeeding basics in our NICU.
>We hope to have something done for the spring for our conference.  Stay
>tuned.
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of LACTNET Digest - 18 Dec 2001 - Special issue (#2001-1074)
>****************************************************************


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