Having a little knowledge on how websites work... It is more than likely that Abbott has Search Engine Optimization built into their site.  When you build a website, you can place key words to increase the likelihood that any search engine will populate your website first. How you write your text, placement of links, and how you design your site plays an extreme part in your web success.  All this is common practice. There are many things you can do to increase your website traffic.   It is a typical strategic marketing maneuver.  It is also clear they have paid for a GoogleAd.  Google has nothing to do with the ranking of Abbott's site.  Considering Abbott is also a paid customer, they probably will not remove them from the data base.  
What also makes a website go up in rankings?  When you click on that link... you are pushing them up the list. 

Abbott hired a corporate lactation company to provide these services.  The company (has a staff of lactation educators, specialist, counselors and IBCLCs.  When I asked the educator who answered my call, how does the ethics of working for the formula company play in all of this?  Her response was she did not work for the formula company but worked for the corporate lactation company, thus there is no breech of ethics.  The educator had attended a well known education program, and (at the time) was a member of ILCA.  She also stated they do not receive a script from Abbott, nor are they told to endorse products.  If you have issues with the quality of information going out, get in line sister.  There are many education programs that do not test their participants, and those that do- typically never fail anyone.  Rarely do we have a program that actually has any real clinical experience associated with it.  Most are a test of endurance of a week, and waalaa... your deemed fit to council mothers.  Although the corporate lactation company has IBCLC who are supposedly working with the (insert any other non IBCLC title), they are not with them editing and evaluating their responses.  To the best of my knowledge, the suggestion she gave me were on target with standards. 

Although I feel it is a violation of ethics, obviously some do not.   How many other people work for a company that is hired to work with negatively impacting Breastfeeding Company?  If we took a list of lactation support companies and took a look at their customers, would we be surprised?

Renee Palting, RN, IBCLC, RLC
www.breastfeedingfairy.com

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