Formula Companies

Oh wait, I just found this:

"MomsFeedingFreedom.com was made possible by a grant from the International Formula Council"
Yes, this means that this entire website is paid for the by the formula industry as a whole.

I am truly appalled that a journalist -- who should be dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of unbiased truth -- and a healthcare professional -- who should be dedicated to the practice of evidence-based medicine and the public's health -- have accepted money to represent the formula industry's deceitful and unethical stance on the marketing of corporate brands of formula in hospitals, in ways that are demonstrated to undermine successful breastfeeding.

One meme of these formula-industry shills is that "women are too smart" to be swayed by advertising. Isn't it ironic that this tired and deeply flawed rhetoric is being touted on a website that is nothing more than an extension of the formula industry's advertising/lobbying efforts?

I guess they're hoping that women aren't nearly as smart as they are telling us we are.

Oh wait, I just found this:

"MomsFeedingFreedom.com was made possible by a grant from the International Formula Council"
Yes, this means that this entire website is paid for the by the formula industry as a whole.

I am truly appalled that a journalist -- who should be dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of unbiased truth -- and a healthcare professional -- who should be dedicated to the practice of evidence-based medicine and the public's health -- have accepted money to represent the formula industry's deceitful and unethical stance on the marketing of corporate brands of formula in hospitals, in ways that are demonstrated to undermine successful breastfeeding.

One meme of these formula-industry shills is that "women are too smart" to be swayed by advertising. Isn't it ironic that this tired and deeply flawed rhetoric is being touted on a website that is nothing more than an extension of the formula industry's advertising/lobbying efforts?

I guess they're hoping that women aren't nearly as smart as they are telling us we are.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I wonder how much they are paying her? How stupid to they think women are?

I'm all for freedom of choice--informed choice. To twist this to make it sound like mothers will no longer have a choice in how they feed their baby is an insult to intelligence. If this is the International Formula Council's plan of action to increase sales, I'm not buying that they care about anything but their bottom line.

I wonder how long they will let this forum go on before they shut it down. It does not sound like anyone here who has used formula is entirely happy about it. The moms wish they had more information about breastfeeding, not more information about formula.

To that end, this might be a good time to let interested posters know where they can connect with others who are working to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, in part by seeking to ban formula marketing in hospitals.

Let's all post our favorite links!

For activism:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/banthebags/

Lactivism-related blogs:

http://breastfeeding123.com/

Add your own!

ChrisT after reading your post, I read and reread all the posts on this site and have found nothing mean spirited in the least towards women who choose to bottle feed. If you made an informed educated decision, good for you! (and I really mean that, no sarcasm intended) The problem women have with this website is the misinformation it is providing the public that a) by eliminating formula bags, you take a way women's choice of how they want to feed their children and b) the fact that they are hiding behind this veil of a website touting to support women when really it is nothing more than a clever marketing ploy designed to manipulate women c) they think that women are stupid enough to swallow this mess whole. It's a slap in the face to women.

To those of us who have been made aware of the marketing tactics of these greedy corporate money machines, this is just another way to lull the public into thinking that how we feed our babies isn't one of the most important decisions we make. We are also frustrated at the deliberate lack of breastfeeding information women are provided by hospitals and doctors because of the financial incentives they get from formula companies and the fact that women are made to doubt their bodies ability to breastfeed.

Does formula have a place in society? Absolutely. However, I take umbrage to the fact that formula companies continue to ignore mandates from WHO that formula samples not be given out and that formula not be advertised, period. (including in America) They have become especially good at violating these mandates in third world countries where formula has been blamed for up to 1,500,000 infant deaths every year (that is not a made up number, it is coming from Unicef and WHO). Here is a link http://www.supportaamirraza.org/mycause.htm. You don't have to read the article, just scroll down the the Pakistani mother with her twins. It was on Unicefs website, but was archived sometime ago.

So, to make a long rant short, none of us have any problem with a woman making a truly informed educated decision with how she chooses to feed her baby. None of us are holier than thou, just passionate, and no one has been mean or nasty to any other woman on this board nor do any of us hide behind the website. If you were to meet us face to face, I promise each and everyone of us would say the same thing. I have spoken with many of my girlfriends about the benefits of breastfeeding and my views on the illegal tactics of the formula companies. If they still choose to formula feed, I may not agree, but I do not berate them for it. Would I prefer every baby be breastfed? Of course. I have seen the numerous benefits for my son and myself. I exclusively breastfed while working a full time job and it was worth every second. That is why I am so passionate. I hope this helps you understand why so many pro breastfeeding women are posting on a non breastfeeding website.
:)

There is definitely no reason for lactation consultants to be rude towards a woman choosing not to breastfeed. I think, though, that sometimes their passion for breastfeeding and their efforts to make sure you are making an informed decision can be misinterpreted. They do have an obligation to make sure that an informed decision is being made. Just like my hospital required that I go and learn about epidurals and the other anesthesia that was available so I could make an informed decision. I am very adamant that I will not get an epidural while giving birth--I actually have a bad reaction to them--but I still had to listen to their speech so I could make an informed decision. Well, hearing about breastfeeding is the same way. You definitely have the right to choose formula, but you need to hear the breastfeeding information so your decision is informed. When I had my thirdchild, I had to sit and listen to the education about car seats even though I am very well educated about car seat safety and my husband is certified as a car seat installer. The thought crossed my mind to just send her away--I was so ready to go home! But I realized that she was doing her job and it wouldn't take long and I might actually hear something new. That's just how it is when you have a baby. You are visited by a whole series of people to make sure you have all of the information you need to give your baby a good and safe start.

Here's what I don't understand about the militant, breastfeed-or-else mentality - what IS the proposed solution then for the millions of mothers who need to return to work and therefore have to rely on something to feed their baby? Yes, some very fortunate women can simply close the door to their private offices and pump away...but surely you have to know that's not the reality for most women in the US workforce. Women can love their babies as much as humanly possibly and still make the decision that earning an income is the best decision for her family - and that often means (gasp!) supplementing or switching to formula at some point.

Of course the formula companies are hoping that we'll use THEIR kind of formula, so they give a sample away at the hospital. So what? The idea that a company somewhere is advertising to me isn't particularly offensive....I'm aware of it every time I open up a magazine, turn on the TV or simply drive down the street. What IS offensive to me is the idea that I must be some poor naive sap who was manipulated by the evil formula makers if I use choose to use a bottle to make my life work.

Olivia,

It is not about being "militant." It is simply about giving support and accurate information. There is far too much misinformation given out on breastfeeding.

I think the pumping at work/longer maternity leave issues need to be taken up by women directly involved with those companies. They need to work towards changing the company policy on pumping at work and maternity leave. If enough women want it and can show benefits to their companies, then maybe some companies will change their policies. The bottom line is, many companies do not like the fact that they are at risk of losing female employees for many months during which they have to both pay them as well as temps to fill their positions until they return. They'd much rather have male employees who are less likely to take leave (since they obviously won't be having babies!)... and who can blame them? They are concerned with making money, and it's not going to make them money to give leave to women for 6-12 months. Yes, it would help more mothers to breastfeed... but I think there's a better chance with fighting for change in the pumping policies at companies. They know you'll still be there to work and that your child will have fewer illnesses most likely as a result of getting breastmilk, meaning less days missed for the mothers.

Of course the formula companies are hoping that we'll use THEIR kind of formula, so they give a sample away at the hospital. So what? The idea that a company somewhere is advertising to me isn't particularly offensive....I'm aware of it every time I open up a magazine, turn on the TV or simply drive down the street. What IS offensive to me is the idea that I must be some poor naive sap who was manipulated by the evil formula makers if I use choose to use a bottle to make my life work.
Olivia, you ask some good questions, but first I'm going to address the way you describe breastfeeding advocates. I'm passionately dedicated to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding -- but I'm not "militant" and I don't have a "breastfeed-or-else mentality." I don't "gasp!" at the thought of women using formula. And I don't think that women who choose to feed formula to their babies are "poor naive saps."

I also know a LOT of other breastfeeding advocates, both online and in real life. Yeah, one does occasionally run across some strongly-worded and poorly-phrased generalizations and judgmentality. But the vast majority of us are reasonable, clear-sighted, and compassionate towards all mothers regardless of how they feed their babies. Nobody is trying to force any woman to breastfeed or to make it impossible for her to obtain formula for her baby.

So -- your question: You want to know what breastfeeding advocates propose for mothers who return to paid employment while their babies are young. Oh, what a wonderful topic for ALL of us to have a conversation about! This is a huge, complex, and IMHO fascinating issue for intelligent mothers to discuss, because it is such a common reality for so many families and it has such a huge impact on everything to do with how our society views babies and their needs. My short answer to your question is that I want to see longer (MUCH longer) and better-paid maternity leaves, and I want to see lactation support mandated by law for workplaces. This two-pronged approach would, first of all, enable more mothers to stay home until their babies are at least eating solid foods along with breastfeeding, and it would also make it easier for many more mothers to still provide their milk for their babies when they do return to paid employment. Longer maternity leaves and workplace lactation support are completely achievable goals -- many developed countries around the world have managed to provide both, and the US could easily do likewise if only the political will was there. This campaign is definitely on my to-do list!! (smile)

Now, to the rest of your question. You write:

The formula companies know this. This is why they are fighting so hard to preserve their access to new mothers and babies in the first couple days postpartum. This is why they are so adamant about sending samples home with as many families as possible -- they know that the first night or two home from the hospital, chances are the previously sleepy newborn will be awake half the night fussing, and that the mother's milk will soon come in and change the shape and texture of her breasts so that latching gets tricky for a couple days. They want to make sure those exhausted and worried mothers have formula within easy reach for that 3 a.m. panic.

Sending a formula sample home from the hospital is designed to interrupt the normal course of early breastfeeding. It has very little to do with getting the moms to choose their brand six weeks or three months later when they return to paid employment. If that was the primary goal, it would make a lot more sense to deliver samples to your doorstep when your baby is a month or two old (which formula companies also do.)

Yes, formula marketing in the hospital and to pediatricians is also meant to establish brand preference -- but that is also unethical when we're talking about food for babies. As you are well aware, many families have no viable choice but to send mom back to paid work early and feed the baby formula. There is zero reliable evidence that any available brand of formula in this country is of better quality or has better health results than any other brand. This means that the cheaper store-brand formulas do as good a job as any of the big names with big advertising budgets. But when a doctor or a nurse hands a mother name-brand samples, she is more likely to stick with that expensive name-brand stuff, because it apparently has the medical profession's stamp of approval. The "Ban The Bags" movement (www.banthebags.org) has found that this means the families who can least afford to waste their money on unnecessarily expensive food are the most likely to end up spending hundreds of dollars more on the name-brand formula of which they received a sample in the hospital.

This is a form of economic injustice layered onto the injustice of disparity in breastfeeding rates by social class. It's wrong and unethical for corporations to exploit the working poor to make their stockholders even wealthier.

Olivia, I'm interested to hear your thoughts. Does what I'm saying make sense to you? Do you agree with me that it is fair and right to limit advertising that has been proven to be detrimental to babies' health?

As a mother of three, I am more than thrilled that the formula companies provide strong alternatives and supplements to breastmilk. I breastfed all three of my children for various lengths of time. My third child was born with a severe congenital heart defect and was not able to eat well (breast or bottle) for a significant amount of time. It was the formula companies that provided me a way to supplement my milk with additional calories to allow my child to get enough nourishment to allow his body to grown strong enough to handle open heart surgery at 3 1/2 months.

He is now 7 months old and growing like a weed. I am now exclusively bottle feeding, which has been the best solution not only for Mom and baby, but for the family as a whole.

I know the benefits of breastmilk. I also know that being a good parent spans well beyond what/how we feed our children. Working 50+ hours a week, being a wife and mother of three, my time allocation needs to be focused on quality. By that I mean the time I save over the course of a day, week and month by exclusively bottle feeding allows us to better bond as a family.

kitty5877, I'm so glad to hear that your son has done well after such a frightening beginning. What an ordeal for all of you!

I'm not a medical professional, and so I can't comment on the issue of nutrition for a seriously ill young infant. I know that premature or ill newborns may need milk that has more calories per ounce than normal breastmilk has; I've heard that there are fairly simple ways to modify expressed breastmilk to achieve that goal and also that a for-profit milk bank produces precisely calibrated breastmilk for such needs. Supplementing with some kind of formula clearly did the trick for your son, and I'm glad that he is doing well and that you are happy with your feeding choices for him now.

Do you feel, however, that your own unique experience with using formula justifies the unethical practice of hospitals giving breastfeeding mothers samples of formula? Let's remember that this issue is at the core of this website's agenda. Knowing as you do the benefits of breastmilk and the importance of families being supported in their decisions, do you think it is right for the formula industry to pay hospitals to deliberately undermine breastfeeding?

I can see that pumping and working may not be as convenient as formula-feeding... but I was just asking about breastfeeding itself. The reference above just stated that breastfeeding was less convenient - not pumping. Also, it does not have to be all or nothing... if pumping is inconvenient enough that the convenience outweighs the benefits for a mother, then she could still breastfeed when at home. True, her body may not produce as much milk if she doesn't pump while away from her baby for 8 hours, but in many cases it could still be done. I do think that would be more convenient when at home, because it removes the inconvenience of dealing with bottles and cleaning them and such.

Again, I can see how pumping is not convenient when compared to formula. I was just asking how breastfeeding itself was less convenient... and maybe that wasn't what was being claimed; maybe it was that pumping is inconvenient and just sounded like the act of breastfeeding in and of itself.

Well, it can be inconvenient when you want or need to be doing other things - which is why it's a shame we don't have close-knit communities anymore... then there would be plenty of others helping you to get chores done and that sort of thing. And traveling by car does make it tricky at times... if your baby is rear-facing in one of those bucket carseats, and you strap it in without the base, then you can actually lean over the car seat to nurse while sitting next to the baby - of course, only possible when somebody else is driving though. There are lots of "modern day conveniences" that actually make it less convenient to breastfeed.

I guess it comes down to a mother picking her priorities... and it seems you have decided that the priority is to nurse for at least six months, based on what you have said. Each mother is going to decide on her own priorities, whether it is breastfeeding or having more time to devote to other things.

I actually think that the car and living so far from friends, relatives, etc. is a huge reason why we'll never be able to totally breastfeed the way nature intended. It is a big obstacle to have to work around.

I guess the main key here is making sure that your child is receiving the nutrients he/she needs.It can be through breatsfeeding or bottlefeeding but always have in mind your childs growth and health.