I agree with Deborah Tobin that a few articulate (and
motivated) consumers can be a potent antidote to "evil
forces". If the mothers who want breastfeeding to succeed
are educated as to why formula packs are detrimental to bf
success, they can take arms against this sea of troubles.

A few years ago a family member told me that she
had been subjected (in hospital, and by WIC) to every known
pothole in the road to lactation: birth interventions, imposed
separation from baby, bottles and pacifiers given without her
permission, a nipple shield given to her "prophylactically,"
and two cases of formula courtesy of the hospital and,
separately, her local WIC office. (She is low-income and
former drug abuser, so it was clear everyone thought she
would fail at breastfeeding.) Well, not only did she nurse
exclusively for more than 18 months, once she was back to
"fighting form" she went ballistic complaining to all the people
who "did her wrong" (her words). I don't know what changes,
if any, happened at the hospital. I do know that all of her
friends get educated in how to leap the hurdles to
breastfeeding success.

Hang in, Kathleen. Don't let the darkness overshadow the
candles of light you, and your patients, hold in your hands.

PS: WIC folks who I know
work very hard: don't take the comments in this letter as
condemnation. One "bad" office cannot be held up as the
standard.

Margery Wilson, IBCLC
Lactation Jedi