I am a non-nurse IBCLC working in a huge formula friendly hospital. I
never have anything to do with the companies, but I do annoy them a lot.
If they provide refreshments for the staff, I do not eat the food, and
make overt declarations why not. I often spot check the gift bags that
are given out in our hospital and if I find anything too offensive, I
demand that it be removed, and it usually is. This week, I found a
package which I thought was milk powder, but it was laundry powder
instead. I hope some very tired mother does not make a mistake and
think that it is artificial milk.
I manage a breastfeeding forum in internet as part of my work in the
hospital. Recently there appeared a huge bold red ad for our version of
dr brown bottles. I demanded that the ad be removed. The company that
imports and markets these bottles is the same company that imports one
of the major brands of artificial milk. When the ad was not removed, I
explained in great detail why I do not recommend that particular bottle,
and exactly why it endangers breastfeeding. Once in a conference for
pregnant couples, I asked them quite loudly why they give samples of
lactose-free formula to pregnant women, citing that infants need lactose
for brain development, and that it is the protein and not the lactose in
cow's milk that harms babies. The company wrote to the head of the
hospital a long letter listing all the things that I have done over the
years to hassle them, and they complained that my activities have
greatly hurt their sales. Little moi endangering a huge
multi-million-dollar company?? As a result of the letter listing all
these offenses, I was called into the deputy head of the hospital. I
was sure that I would be fired because this particular company just
donated big bucks to renovate our NICU. I explained the Code, and why
aggressive marketing of artificial milk could harm even
non-breastfeeding infants: because it pushes the companies to increase
additives in the milk in order to keep up with the competition, which is
real milk as well as other companies. In short, the hospital wrote them
a reply backing my professionalism. Let's see if they pursue it
further.
We can't be afraid to stand up to these companies and get the truth out
to the parents. Make it clear that they care more about company profits
than infant health. I have no obligation to any commercial entity, even
though they are very "generous" in my hospital. I have my professional
code of ethics that prevents me from participating in any activity that
they sponsor, or control. Hospital management is sick of my code, but
they can't do anything about it because I am consistent and insistent.
I put a copy of the latest document of code violations on everyone's
desk and now more people are starting to understand that this is not
just a matter of fanaticism of mine, but a real world-wide issue that is
taken very seriously by many large organizations
Esther G.
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