I do not condone what is happening in most of our hospitals around the  
country, but I think it is very unfair to single out Florida Hospital.   Hospitals 
around the country still get free supplies from formula  companies.  Most 
hospitals are not baby friendly, and most would have  formula vendors at Baby 
Fairs, conferences and continuing ed programs.   Formula companies still play a 
major role in WIC programs.  Several years  ago, our Breastfeeding Coalition 
tried to explain to a Hospital  employed nurse WHY we would NOT accept a formula 
vendor for our  Breastfeeding program.  Her reasoning was that they provide 
sponsorship for  their ed programs at the hospital on a regular basis.  Her 
thought  process was, "We should just get over it--they are here to stay." 
 
    I do not accept this philosophy, but I also do  not think it is fair to 
single out one hospital when this is common  practice throughout most U.S. 
hospitals.  Very few people understand the  impact formula companies have or even 
argue it.  Just visit any Mother-Baby  unit, and you can see the impact that 
formula companies have, from choice of  formula to those little red and yellow 
nipples that go so well with  breastfeeding.  If we want to make a big deal 
about this little  article on Florida Hospital, than we should probably compile 
a list that would  include almost every OB hospital in the nation minus the 50 
baby friendly  hospitals as of July, 2005. 
 

Debbie  Albert, RN, Ph.D., LMHC, IBCLC, RLC
Tampa Lactation Counseling
Tampa,  FL 


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