Hi all - comments about hospital marketing of abm:

Some time ago, Dr. Doren Fredrickson wrote an editorial in the JHL comparing
the marketing of abm to the marketing of cigarettes in the past. Let's take
that a step further:

During WWII, cigarettes were included in the packets of field rations
(packaged meals) for soldiers along with stews, breads, etc. Now, smoking is
"actively" discouraged and the US military facilities are ALL completely
smoke-free, including office buildings, medical facilities, etc.  There is
even discussion of taking action against military members who smoke off duty,
because it affects their long-term health which the government pays the
insurance for. (bad grammar, but you get my point).

Things change. I've posted before about the Buster Brown shoe stores with
x-ray machines so kids could see how their shoes fit. In 1970, babies were
routinely kept NPO (nothing by mouth) for 24 hours after birth. Decent car
seats for babies were not easily available in 1970 - I used (horrors!) a car
bed for my first baby. As the research surfaces, the marketing will change,
although not as quickly as we might like.

Keep talking the talk. Share the research. Use language that establishes BF
as normal (thanks, Diane Wiessinger) and artificial feeding as risky, because
it's the truth. If we're trying to "increase breastfeeding," we are also
trying to "reduce artificial feeding."

And brace yourself. You know you're making a difference when you get
resistance!

Linda Smith, also known as Granny Zealot - from Dayton, OH where lightning
blew out my surge protector last week and the lawn is squishy from so much
rain. Haven't even had to use sunscreen yet this year.