Hi, Judy,

Just because you're not giving a free bag from the formula companies doesn't
mean you can't give your own bag.  It's a great opportunity to market your
own services.  Our breastfeeding mothers get a canvas bag with several
pockets with our hospital's logo and "Maternal Child Services" on the front.
We include an engraved stainless baby spoon, a magnet with our breastfeeding
warm line number and our business card, a breastmilk storage guidelines
magnet, 2 Snappies, a pen with "Maternal Child Services" and the hospital
logo, samples of 2 kinds of ultra purified lanolin, a breastfeeding-friendly
home care DVD, disposable breast pads, local La Leche League group info, a
MammaCare breast self exam brochure, a Motherwear catalog, breastfeeding
info/product guides from Medela and Ameda, baby socks, diaper cream, baby
wash and lotion, baby laundry soap, and a diaper sample.  We pay for the
canvas bag, MammaCare brochure, warm line magnet, pen, business cards,
Snappies, the DVD, and a few of the samples.  The auxiliary provides the
spoons.  Our Childrens Hospital that we're affiliated with provides the
socks.  Some of the samples come from the free sample bags that come to the
hospital.  We just take out the samples and discard everything else.  If
moms ask for formula or if baby has a medical need for supplementation, we
give them the individual serving bottles.  The LCs pack everything up in the
bags so the RN just has to grab a canvas bag for the breastfeeding mothers
at discharge.  If mom's a formula feeder then they have to collect all the
stuff themselves, minus the breastfeeding-related items.  The default is
always to breastfeeding if mom is doing both by choice.  Much easier for the
nurses, even if it makes more work for us.  The formula sample bags are kept
in plain sight in a cabinet with clear acrylic doors.  I make it a point to
remove the hang tags with the false advertising and lures of sweepstakes etc
whenever I'm working so the moms don't see them and ask for them.  Some moms
still come in with their flashy coupons for the free formula sample bags,
even ones who've been to our breastfeeding class.  We tell them they can
have them but they're only entitled to one bag so if they choose the formula
bag they won't get any of the breastfeeding support materials.  If that's
their choice, who are we to argue?  I see lots of moms come back carrying
the breastfeeding bag.  If they're complaining, we haven't heard about it.
We got rid of the formula sample bags about a year ago.  The formula
salespeople are aware that we are trying very hard to follow the WHO Code,
even if they don't know what it is.  They're not allowed to give out any
samples (gifts) to the nurses so they try to load them up with their glossy
print letter-sized posters with their latest claims instead.  You won't find
a pen, name badge holder, note pad, or anything else around our units that
has a formula company logo on it.  Even if it's very difficult to get
certified Baby Friendly, with a supportive manager you can get rid of all
the ABM garbage and promote your own unit's services instead.  

Linda Anderegg, RNC, BSN, IBCLC, RLC in Chicago


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