LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Krainz, Mary Ann" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 14 Aug 2002 07:35:52 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (98 lines)
Jan, The formula reps told me the same thing.  The mother who starts
brstfding will feed formula longer than a mother who starts with formula and
for the reasons you mentioned. Unreal, isn't it? But, they have studied this
out completely. Mary Ann Krainz RN, IBCLC in WI

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 7:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Formula companies


Heather points out:


> Because women  (in the UK, at least, and I expect elsewhere) who
> *start off* breastfeeding keep their babies on formula for longer
> than mothers who start off formula feeding, who switch to non-formula
> milks pretty soon.....so the would-be breastfeeding mother is a very
> alluring market to formula manufacturers.
>
>
Many years ago a friend who was a Ross rep, rather high up in the biz, told
me that "the breastfeeding mother is the formula company's best friend."
And it was for that very reason -- a woman who starts out bottle feeding is
more likely to switch to cow's milk long before a year than a woman who
starts out breastfeeding and then stops.  And the breastfeeding mom, since
she is more interested in good nutrition for her baby, is likely to go to a
follow-on formula after the first year -- consequently the company makes far
more money from breastfeeding women than they do formula feeding women.
They
would love nothing more than to have a 100% breastfeeding intiation rate,
and
then a fairly rapid drop-off -- which is why they pretend to promote
breastfeeding in their materials and are doing things like buying up the AAP
book and handing it out.   Pediatricians (and others) are swayed by the good
looks, nice manners, and overwhelming helpfulness of the drug reps -- it
isn't just formula reps -- it's all of them.  When was the last time you saw
an overweight frumpy rep w/ bad breath?  I don't think you have.  And they
seem to want to do "favors" for everyone -- "Oh yes, I can get that to you
by
Wednesday.  And I'll bring in some extra samples as well.  By the way, we
have a new drug that is hitting the market -- I'll come in a do an inservice
for you and give you enough to hand out to your patients while you are
evaluating its effectiveness.  And, I'll print up that patient brochure for
you as well -- not to worry, we'll take care of you."  Pediatricians
especially are notoriously underpaid for all the work they do, and the
freebies come in very very handy.....especially since they probably give out
more handouts than any other profession.

It's sad.  It's really very very sad.  Because in discussing these issues
with them, they just don't "get it."  Neither do most of the other health
professionals who look at you as though you are crazy if you brown-bag it to
a lecture presented by the MJ Rep (cuz you wanna hear the info, but not eat
their food), or turn down a lucrative speaking or writing gig because it is
subsidized by Ross.

My daughter would make a wonderful drug rep -- and could make megabucks
doing
it.  She's a social worker working as a victim advocate in the prosecutor's
office -- and her salary is peanuts.  When she looks at her best friend who
is a drug rep making $60,000/year with NO experience in the field, she
wonders why on earth she is doing what she's doing.  And she fits the
profile
of a drug rep really well.  She's 24, tall, beautiful, has a great smile and
a warm, outgoing personality.  But she said she just can't do it -- her
heart
is in helping people, not selling "stuff."  I just wish that helping people
paid more....

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC -- Wheaton IL
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

ATOM RSS1 RSS2