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Subject:
From:
"Jessica Harrison Carlyon, CLE" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 22 May 2002 17:32:05 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
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Many of you have been following the thread about discharge packs.  I recently
gave birth to my 3rd child at a popular local teaching hospital in my area.
I was GREATLY disappointed to be handed a discharge pack FULL of formula
advertising.  Thanks to the encouragement and input from some of you, I wrote
a letter to the administration of that hospital.  I thought you would be very
interested in hearing the very disappointing response I received from the
CEO.  The letter in its entirety follows.

Dear Mrs. Carlyon:

Thank you for your recent letter.  I appreciate your comments and feedback
regarding formula information you received at discharge.  I assure you we
certainly support a mother's decision to breastfeed her child.  We employ two
lactation consultants who provide inpatient and outpatient support support to
nursing mothers.  We also provide continuing education to our nursing staff
regarding fundamental breastfeeding education for new mothers.  We have
published our own breastfeeding manual that is available to new mothers.  I
certainly hope you were not forced to accept the formula discharge pack.  We
never want to provide service that is unwanted.  The discharge packs are
there for mothers who desire to have them so we do not want anyone to feel
obligated to take the pack.

We support new families who have a variety of needs regarding the care of
their newborns.  Choices around methods of feeding a new baby are personal
and sometimes medically related.  Fifty percent of the infants born at
General Hospital* are admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit.  For a
variety of reasons, many of these children require supplemental nutrition in
addition to breastmilk.  Mothers who receive WIC (Women, Infants, and
Children) products have the opportunity to receive infant formula if they
choose not to breastfeed.  Our goal is to provide infants with good nutrition
in the manner their caregivers feel is most appropriate.

Again thank you for your letter.  I have included a copy of our breastfeeding
manual in case you did not receive one when you were here.  I wish you and
your child continued good health.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bob Smith*

(*Names have been changed.)

How do ya like them apples, folks?  They just don't get it.  They just don't
GET IT!!

Jessica Harrison Carlyon, MBA, CD, CLE

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