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Date: | Wed, 1 Jun 2005 09:04:13 EDT |
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This is a follow up from a previous post I made when I had met with a
formula rep at the hospital I work at and he was trying to give me literature on
breastfeeding. I had asked him to give me literature on formula/bottle
feeding. What he gave me was a pile on breastfeeding with their logo all over it
and one booklet that was on breastfeeding and formula feeding. The last 4
pages were on formula/bottle feeding so I read, critiqued, and questioned
references for their statements.
The rep was in the hospital yesterday so I asked him to meet with me
regarding the material. He asked me about the breastfeeding material which I told
him he can have all back. When he asked me what was wrong with it, I told him
it was published by their company. He tried to argue that people really
don't pay attention to those kind of things and I reminded him of Nike and
MacDonalds for just a couple of logos and then moved on.
I told him I was disappointed that his company assumes that parents will
read labels on formula to know how to use correctly. Nothing is covered in this
booklet on mixing, storing, water used, et. I asked him why they do not
describe feeding cues to determine when a baby needs to feed. I pointed out that
large feeds on a set schedule is not natural. The booklet also states that
normal intakes for newborns are 2-4 oz. I asked him for literature on this
and he said that he knew that babies usually only take an average of 1/2 oz in
the first day and felt proud that their company makes a smaller quantity
bottle to give hospitals than their competitors. He then went on to say that on
a personal note that his wife pumped and his babies would easily take 4 oz
(not as newborns) so therefore this is verifying what babies want and need. I
got him to hear me when I described that breastfeeding is not the same as
the mechanics of bottle feeding. He really was uncomfortable with my
challenge to soy formula and it's long term risk and I welcomed him to give me
literature to defend his position.
We left our meeting with him saying he will send on my comments to
corporate. He continued to try and get me to take literature or to let him sponsor a
talk for me. I told him the only talk he could sponsor was how to bottle
feed and mix formula. He suggested that I give the talk, I smiled and said no
that was his field. I also told him to check out the web sites on "bottle
proper" because he can't believe that parents would do this.
I encourage any other lactation professional to do the same with formula
reps. Make them give you literature and classes on their product, not how good
it is but the basics on how to use, mix and research to defend their
comments. I do this because the reality is that formula is here to stay but parents
need to know that babies have the same instincts no matter how they are feed
and to be aware of this. Sorry for the length, this is hard to summarize in
a short note.
Ann Perry, RN, IBCLC
Boston, MA
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