I just want to give another side to this situation.
I have an EXCELLENT relationship with the local Babies R Us in Nashville, TN
USA.
I teach the Breastfeeding seminar at least every other month, sometimes
taking off a month or two. They would have me every Tuesday if I would say
yes. Many of the staff members know me. I have been through at least 3 event
coordinators. They continue to contact me year after year and often have the
entire year booked in advance. This is a 3-4 year relationship at this point.
I have between 15 (very low month say like December) and over 50 people
(standing room only) at my 2 hour breastfeeding class. It is free, I don't
get paid but it brings people into their store and I have each person fill
out a "registration form", give away a small prize and tell them about my
business. They willingly give their contact info and then I can email or
mail them something later or contact them about something they indicated
interest in.
When they need to impress a regional manager, they have them come to MY
seminar. All others have very low numbers....the parents are not that
interested in diapering 101 or decorating the nursery.
And this is in a very middle to low income part of town but EVERYONE
registers at BRU so they hear about the class when registering. I publicize
it as well. They take name and contact and CALL each mother a few days
before to remind her. All the baby registry girls sit in on my class when
pregnant and tell the moms registering to take my class. They also give
mothers my number if they come in and have breastfeeding questions.
ON the other hand, the Baby Fest saturday events have been totally WORTHLESS
and NO ONE stops at my table. It is like I have the plague! So, I don't
waste an entire Saturday doing them any more.
So, I did call my BRU and ask if they were renting pumps. They are NOT. I
asked my in-house Medela rep if there were any plans for the Nashville store
to do so and apparently it was looked at but shut down. Several hospitals,
drug stores, medical equipment stores, me, another private practice and even
a second hand children's store rent pumps in our area so it is pretty well
saturated. The reps in my area have always been really stringent about not
over saturating the market with too many pump depots.
I told the rep what was happening with BRU employees giving horrible
information and told her to tell the powers that be what is going on. I told
them that LCs are pissed too and that it is NOT serving mothers well AT ALL.
She said she would pass that on.
So, I would encourage anyone who is upset or feels the need to do something
to do 2 things.
First, call Medela - especially if you or your employer has an account with
them. Talk to your rep(s). Tell them you are upset. That mothers are being
hurt, babies being hurt and incorrect information is getting out. That BRU
is putting rental/sales ABOVE customer well-being. They may not *really*
care, but they sure as heck want to *look* like they care.
Perhaps if we suggest that BRU employees be instructed to give out a list of
local IBCLCs or have a few to call with questions or something, they would
develop such a program or add that to their "training" or use it to replace
their training.
They have only been doing this since Feb or March and I would think this is
the perfect time to offer feedback or suggest changes.
If you rent pumps, perhaps ask why they needed to put more into the market
in your area. Why without consulting the current rental stations?
Second, contact the Events coordinator or store promotions manager at BRU.
Offer to teach a breastfeeding seminar (Usually Tues nights). It will be
profitable for both of you. I LOVE teaching that class. When I was burned
out and didn't want to have anything more to do with birth or breastfeeding
I kept teaching there. I get moms of all ethnic and socioeconomic status. I
get moms that don't come to LLL. I get to do true outreach. And I don't
water it down, I don't tell them to buy a pump, I just teach what I would
teach anywhere. They set up a table with Medela pumps and supplies and I
approve all they set out and all they give away (had to take out Enfamil
club cards one time) and they have always complied.
So, all I can say, is give it a try. You can make a difference in YOUR part
of the world. You can say something. And I intend to follow up with my
Medela reps and see what supervisors said and what is being done.
I am not trying to be cozy or in bed with Medela or pump companies. The
truth is that some moms need to pump (I am notorious for telling moms they
DON'T need to pump) and I still rent out tons of pumps, because there are
unfortunately plenty of premies, sick, non-latching and separated mom-baby
couplets who need or want a pump to give their baby breastmilk. I don't know
how we bring Medela into code compliance but I think it can be done and
instead of making them devils on par with formula companies (who are quite
devilish), I think we need to be very clear with what we want and start
telling them and demanding change.
Thanks, if you made it to the end.
Good luck in your efforts!
Micky Jones, BS, CLE, CLD, CHBE, HCHI
9 Months & Beyond, LLC
Hypnobabies classes, Breastfeeding consultation and Medela pump rentals,
Birth Doula services and more
www.ninemonthsandbeyond.com
1-877-365-(MAMA) 6262
...helping you enjoy the most precious years of life
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