Monday
May042009
Sabotage
Monday, May 4, 2009
They want you to fail.
Their bottom line depends on it.
Have you ever heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing? This is it.
Formula companies do not support breastfeeding. They want to sabotage you. They want to exploit any iota of doubt that you have, any moment of weakness to get you to try their product.
A breastfeeding support kit from a formula company is like a vegetarianism support kit from a pig farmer.
A formula company offering a free formula sample is like a suicide prevention line offering a free bullet, just in case it doesn't work out (via @mediamum)
It makes no sense whatsoever. They have a vested interest in not supporting you. And they will be as sly and as deceptive as they can be.
Blogs listing coupons and deals and the twitter personalities that support them have been going crazy lately supporting the Enfamil Breastfeeding Support Kit. According to Enfamil, it contains:
Utah Deal Diva, one of the Web sites listing the breastfeeding sabotage kit provides more detail:
Do not order one of these kits if you want to breastfeed successfully. Perhaps it seems like they contain a few useful things. But having formula in your home is the best way to ensure that you do use it. Like chips in the cupboard when you're trying to diet or a bottle of rum or pack of cigarettes lying around when you're trying to kick the habit. They will be very appealing in a moment of weakness. It will be too easy to give up. When you are feeling desperate is not the best time to make an important decision like this. And yes, just one bottle can hurt.
More on breastfeeding sabotage kits:
Today I was visiting another breastfeeding blog and was surprised to see a formula ad. I contacted the blog owner and she was going to take steps tonight to get it removed. The blog I was on was Blacktating and here is the ad I saw.
Now I say that I was surprised, but actually I wasn't. This is typical of Google Adsense and of the formula companies. It is one of the reasons that I haven't implemented Google Ads on my blog. You can block ads after the fact, but the formula ads just keep sneaking in. This has been the experience on the Mothering.com discussion boards where they use Google Ads, but have to rely on members to notify administrators when they see a formula ad, so that they can contact Google to have it blocked. Not exactly ideal. How many people see the ads before that happens? Why should members and administrators have to waste their time reporting these ads?
I don't like formula ads to begin with, but what is particularly offensive about the one on Blacktating and many others is that they pretend to be a breastfeeding site, a place that you might be able to get support. I've seen this type of thing before and noted it in my post behavioural targeting fail.
Tonight, I did a few searches on Google to further research the topic and here is what I found.
First, I did a search on "breastfeeding" and got an Enfamil Ad.
Not what I was looking for, but at least not overly deceptive.It does tell you what the ad is for, what you are getting if you click.
But then I searched on "breastfeeding support" and found yet another link to Enfamil, this type pretending to be a link about breastfeeding support, but if you read the fine print it is about formula feeding.
Ah, okay.
Same thing from Enfamil, but in a different format, when I tried "breastfeeding help". No Enfamil, soy-based formula is not breastfeeding help.
But then came the kicker. From Similac, also under "breastfeeding help" comes an ad asking you if you need "professional advice about your baby". Do you see the word formula anywhere? No. But click on the ad and you arrive at the Similac Welcome Club page.
The formula companies, for their part, pretend to be good citizens. Pretend to be doing nothing wrong.
Mead Johnson, the company that sells Enfamil, says:
Really? High quality company standards? Deceptive marketing practices are not what I would call high-quality company standards.
What are you going to do about it?
If you are in Canada, you may wish to read up on Misleading Representations and Deceptive Marketing Practices and consider filing a complaint with the Competition Bureau.
In other countries, I can't pretend to know enough about the law or process for reporting these types of things, but I would welcome comments from anyone that does know.
Thanks to @TopHat8855 from the bee in your bonnet and @lauredhel from Hoyden About Town for suggesting some great links.
Their bottom line depends on it.
Have you ever heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing? This is it.
Formula companies do not support breastfeeding. They want to sabotage you. They want to exploit any iota of doubt that you have, any moment of weakness to get you to try their product.
Breastfeeding Support Kits
A breastfeeding support kit from a formula company is like a vegetarianism support kit from a pig farmer.
A formula company offering a free formula sample is like a suicide prevention line offering a free bullet, just in case it doesn't work out (via @mediamum)
It makes no sense whatsoever. They have a vested interest in not supporting you. And they will be as sly and as deceptive as they can be.
Blogs listing coupons and deals and the twitter personalities that support them have been going crazy lately supporting the Enfamil Breastfeeding Support Kit. According to Enfamil, it contains:
- A sample of Expecta® LIPIL® DHA Supplement for pregnant and nursing moms.
- An excerpt from The Nursing Mother's Companion, a useful guide with tips and suggestions.
- A sample of Enfamil LIPIL®, our closest formula to breast milk, should you choose to supplement.
Utah Deal Diva, one of the Web sites listing the breastfeeding sabotage kit provides more detail:
**Note: seems there's a question as to what the Breastfeeding Support kit contains, so I thought I'd answer. Kit contains; breastpads, a container for storing breastmilk in the fridge, a cool-relief gel pad thing that you can put in your bra when you're engorged and yes, a sample of formula. Mine also contained a coupon for a FREE tube of A&D ointment, as well as several other coupons. Hope this helps.
Do not order one of these kits if you want to breastfeed successfully. Perhaps it seems like they contain a few useful things. But having formula in your home is the best way to ensure that you do use it. Like chips in the cupboard when you're trying to diet or a bottle of rum or pack of cigarettes lying around when you're trying to kick the habit. They will be very appealing in a moment of weakness. It will be too easy to give up. When you are feeling desperate is not the best time to make an important decision like this. And yes, just one bottle can hurt.
More on breastfeeding sabotage kits:
Keyword Advertising
Today I was visiting another breastfeeding blog and was surprised to see a formula ad. I contacted the blog owner and she was going to take steps tonight to get it removed. The blog I was on was Blacktating and here is the ad I saw.
Now I say that I was surprised, but actually I wasn't. This is typical of Google Adsense and of the formula companies. It is one of the reasons that I haven't implemented Google Ads on my blog. You can block ads after the fact, but the formula ads just keep sneaking in. This has been the experience on the Mothering.com discussion boards where they use Google Ads, but have to rely on members to notify administrators when they see a formula ad, so that they can contact Google to have it blocked. Not exactly ideal. How many people see the ads before that happens? Why should members and administrators have to waste their time reporting these ads?
I don't like formula ads to begin with, but what is particularly offensive about the one on Blacktating and many others is that they pretend to be a breastfeeding site, a place that you might be able to get support. I've seen this type of thing before and noted it in my post behavioural targeting fail.
Tonight, I did a few searches on Google to further research the topic and here is what I found.
First, I did a search on "breastfeeding" and got an Enfamil Ad.
Not what I was looking for, but at least not overly deceptive.It does tell you what the ad is for, what you are getting if you click.
But then I searched on "breastfeeding support" and found yet another link to Enfamil, this type pretending to be a link about breastfeeding support, but if you read the fine print it is about formula feeding.
Ah, okay.
Same thing from Enfamil, but in a different format, when I tried "breastfeeding help". No Enfamil, soy-based formula is not breastfeeding help.
But then came the kicker. From Similac, also under "breastfeeding help" comes an ad asking you if you need "professional advice about your baby". Do you see the word formula anywhere? No. But click on the ad and you arrive at the Similac Welcome Club page.
No, you didn't read wrong. You were searching for "breastfeeding help". The ad goes from suggesting you are going to Web site that will give you advice about your baby (presumably breastfeeding help?) to a page that says to a page that says:
When it comes to fulfilling the nutritional requirements of non-breastfed babies during the first months of life, SIMILAC is closer than ever to breast milk.
Unbelievable. Someone looking for breastfeeding help presumably does not have a non-breastfed baby. At least not yet. Not until they found this ad that told them how wonderful SIMILAC is and that welcomed them with open arms to their wonderful club.
Kind of reminds me of cults that come knocking on your door. They hope to find you in a state of weakness and suck you in until it is too late to turn back.
What do the formula companies say?
The formula companies, for their part, pretend to be good citizens. Pretend to be doing nothing wrong.
Mead Johnson, the company that sells Enfamil, says:
In developing countries where laws and regulations have been adopted to govern the promotion of infant formula, we abide by those laws. In developing countries where laws and regulations have not been adopted, Mead Johnson Nutrition has developed and complies with our own, internal guidelines. In developed countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, where the WHO Code has not been adopted by law, Mead Johnson complies with those countries' laws and regulations and applies high-quality company standards.
Really? High quality company standards? Deceptive marketing practices are not what I would call high-quality company standards.
What are you going to do about it?
If you are in Canada, you may wish to read up on Misleading Representations and Deceptive Marketing Practices and consider filing a complaint with the Competition Bureau.
In other countries, I can't pretend to know enough about the law or process for reporting these types of things, but I would welcome comments from anyone that does know.
Thanks to @TopHat8855 from the bee in your bonnet and @lauredhel from Hoyden About Town for suggesting some great links.
Reader Comments (87)
@ Matt, I'm sorry but I don't believe that this post "hostile". Obviously you need to experience being around mothers that can breastfeed to truly understand this post. Infants in the nicu can still get Mama's pumped breast milk. Women can still make milk by pumping while the baby is in the nicu. When we breastfeed and watch our children thrive and grow on the milk our bodies made we are the ones who feel that these formula companies are trying everything possible for us to buy their products.
Yes, there are women that cannot make milk but this is a very small percentage, out of those women most still can make milk but not enough-yet they do. Formula could be an option for those women.
But what about the rest of us that can make milk? After my cesarean, I was told in my face by a doctor that I will not make enough milk because my baby was too big. I went home with a bag full of formula samples thinking that I had no milk. No one told me at the hospital it takes about a week for the milk to come in and that I was making colostrum for my baby. After hearing helpful advice from other breastfeeding Moms I started to successfully breastfeed my baby.
I didn't know that these formula companies actually have campaigns to get women to stop breastfeeding since it's bad for their business. They pay doctors and even give out luxury gifts so they can get their formula promoted. They give even more gifts to breastfeeding Moms to get them to stop breastfeeding and try their product. God knows how many coupons and powdered cans of 'next step' formula I had after my baby turned 1.
What really angers me is the hospitals and OBs who agree to help with formula promotion! They should be advocates for their patients health and best interest - and as studies have shown, having formula coupons lowers the chance of successful breastfeeding. Actual samples, even more so.
I was fortunate to have my daughter in a babyfriendly hospital. My mothers kit had lansinoh, and breast pad samples. That was it. My OB's office, however, gave me an Enfamil diaper bag with coupons in it. They explained they made it "breastfeeding friendly" by removing the actual formula samples (which they presumable give to mothers who state they plan on formula feeding).
We've since moved and our current hospital is NOT designated baby-friendly...and if I get formula samples when I deliver this baby, well - they are going to hear about it from me.
I think this practice by the formula companies is immoral at best. It is sickening to me that companies will put profits before the health of PEOPLE. Google should be monitoring the keywords that companies are allowed to use, plain and simple. Unfortunately, they are in it for the money as well.
Meh... I don't know about this one.
I think that while there may be a small percentage of "on the fence" women who might be swayed by a free formula sample, the fact is that the majority of women who aren't that interested in breastfeeding aren't going to stick it out when the going gets tough anyway and the formula companies can hardly be blamed for trying to grab up this segment.
I am a passionate breastfeeder and will not give my kids formula before they're at least a year old and the fact that I could run across the street and buy formula doesn't influence that. I am a grown up and I'm in control of the choices I make. I don't blame McDonalds if I have a weight problem and I don't blame Nestle if I make the wrong feeding choices for my kids.
It is hardly empowering for women to transfer the responsibility for critical mothering decisions onto companies who only have their own bottom lines in mind.
A company's first responsibility is to its shareholders. A mother's first responsibility is to her children. Who is not doing their job in this situation?
pardon my defensive reply, but I have WORKED hard to supply breastmilk for my child
@Matthew:
There are a number of circumstances in which infant formula is the logical choice for an infant. One such situation would be if the infant is kept in intensive care after birth while the mother is too weak from the delivery to leave her bed.
There are acceptable reasons to supplement. But this isn't one. As an IBCLC, I have, per the mom's request, assisted a father to pump the mother's breast while she was asleep in bed and unable to leave the bed. We also go to ICUs for the same reason. Many moms are too sick to be pumped. Being too weak to get out of bed is a choice.
A VALID reason for supplementation is why I had to give my son the hydrolyzed formula: when we discovered that he had cow's milk and soy allergies being passed through my breastmilk. He took the milk until I eliminated everything in my diet and everything cleared his system. He is still nursing occasionally almost 2 years after this event.
& : Parents will come to realize that exclusive breastfeeding at this point is unrealistic
Seriously? You think that it is unrealistic? MANY people told me when my son was vomiting before we knew of his allergies to just give up and give him formula. My reply: I didn't sign up for easy parenting. I signed up to do what is best for my kid. And if giving him formula for 2 weeks while my system was cleansed, then that's what I did. We should each set our own attainable goals. But, PLEASE, do not tell someone what is not realistic. Keep your own expectations to yourself.
Donating formula samples, though well meaning, violates the World Health Organization's International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which means that it undermines breastfeeding. I am sure you did not mean to assume that women who are in shelters need formula more than you do, in fact, poor and minority women "need" it less; they are at greater risk for negative health consequences associated with formula like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc. We need to protect these women even more from the ruthless marketing of formula that robs them of the opportunity to make an informed, unbiased decision of what works best for them and their families and the opportunity to carry that decision out. I made that decision for myself. I used formula for my son but I can afford to take him to the doctor more often, these women can not.
Lauren:
People are weak and corporations know that. I don't think that their responsibility to their shareholders gives them the right to participate in manipulative advertising (e.g. pretending to offer "breastfeeding support", but really offering free formula). As someone who had a lot of difficulty breastfeeding, I know how great the temptation to use formula is. Having it lying around, pushed in your face, etc. is a hazard. A http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/17/new-study-on-impact-of-free-formula-on-breastfeeding-rates/" rel="nofollow">Canadian study I posted about a while ago found that moms who didn't take any formula samples home from the hospital were 3.5 times more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at 2 weeks post partum.
I posted this in response to a comment on our Facebook page:
The point here is that the formula companies know that as along as breastfeeding mothers are successfully marketed the convenience of supplementing, whether occasionally or exclusively, they won't fight for better maternity leave (the U.S. has one of the worst of industrialized countries), better employee lactation programs, health care coverage for lactation counselors and pumps, and for hospitals that score better than a "D" on breastfeeding support. With just one free can of formula, they have managed to galvanize a whole pyramid of booby traps.
Lauren, one of the biggest obstacles to breastfeeding is the attitude of some advocates that women "who aren't that interested in breastfeeding aren't going to stick it out when the going gets tough anyway". Breastfeeding in this country is like being urged to run a marathon, being handed a pair of fllip-flops, and then having tomatoes thrown at you. The question is, why should the going have to get THAT tough? When 70% of hospitals score a "D" on breastfeeding support, why are we bashing women for not sticking it out? I don't think it's fair. Women are not weak, they are being actively prevented from succeeding by a myriad of booby traps. I hope you will read our booby traps page http://www.bestforbabes.org/breastfeeding-booby-traps/ and also this incredible essay http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-bartick/ipeaceful-revolutioni-mot_b_536659.html and put yourself in the shoes of these mothers, and consider the ridiculous hurdles we are expecting them to overcome. The formula companies have erected and cemented these hurdles, and it is not fair to expect all women to be able to surmount them in order to succeed at their desire to breastfeed.
[...] money so they hand out formula to breastfeeding mums in hope they will fail. more about that: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/05/04/sabotage/ it also talks about googling "breastfeeding support" and formula advertisements popping [...]
It's not that they "need" it more. It's that if they're using it, they could use the financial help of having it given to them free more.
Dear Google, It's called business ethics! Google it!
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone: +1 650-253-0000
Fax: +1 650-253-0001
BfB - I completely agree with you. That's what I'm saying too - I think that the real problems that have lead us so far away from breastfeeding are less to do with formula companies and more to do with the completely screwed up North American birth culture where under-informed medical staff are the ones at the steering wheel and we have succumbed to the over-sexualization of breasts and other non-female-friendly cultural ideas that have made breastfeeding "gross", "offensive" or "unnecessary".
That's not even mentioning the lack of adequate maternity leave/BF support for working moms laws in the States which make it next to impossible for lower-income moms to breastfeed.
I'm not saying it's good that formula companies pave the way for nursing moms to give up, but I am skeptical about how much of a real impact it would have on long-term BF even if these "kits" disappeared tomorrow. Americans have a very long battle ahead of them to reverse the damage that has been done to what is considered "normal" birth and parenting.
Unfortunately, there is now a trend allowing women to elect a primary c/section when there is NO reason why she should not have a vaginal birth. I took care of just such a woman the other day. So, unfortunately, c/sections are being advertised (in a way); similar to formula. Word s[reads fast and wmen know just what docs to chooses if they decide they do not even want to consider a normal vaginal birth. It makes me heartsick to think that some doctors have so little regard for a woman's body that they would advocate for this type of practice.
Mothers-in-law and mothers can be so difficult to deal with. How sad. Hvae you shown her your 100 ounces of milk n the freezer? LOL! There is a wondeful pamphlet that I ahve always given out to moms who need it called TO THE GRANDMOTHER OF THE BREASTFED BABY and it is a great support for the new mom.
Having worked for 20 years in a hospital that allowed the formula reps in and now working in a Baby Friendly hospital, I can't get over how much better (and easier) it is to support breastfeeding. I wish more hospitals world wide would adopt the concept of the Baby Friendly Initiative. For those of you who are unfamiliar, google "baby friendly initiative" or "baby friendly hospitals" and you will see exactly what I am referring to.
I think true "baby friendly" hospitals are bag-free. I know we are here in Florida. Marsha Walker is the chairman of the BAN THE BAG initiative.
I wish I could say this is unbelievable.
In a dream world, breast milk from milk banks would be readily available, and prescription would be required for formula.
Great post.
Fun story: at a birth I did last year in another city south of where I live, I picked up mom's freebie 'breastfeeding support' bag, and then, with her sitting by, watching from her hospital bed as she breastfed her babe, I helped her methodically remove every piece of advertising for formula companies it contained. I also took the booklet of included information, in which the fomula company had mixed good info with garbage, and tore-out the pages (or parts of pages) which were useless or detrimental to a breastfeeding relationship. The rag of a publication left was significantly reduced in size, and made a very clear point to her. She whistled and said, "Wow. They really push that stuff [formula], don't they?"
At the bottom of the bag was a can of powdered formula. I looked up at her, grinned and said, "You're doing great. You won't be needing this." Then I chucked it over my shoulder into the bin with the advertising and confetti-pieces of discarded pamphlet culls.
Only regret: that I had to liter (not recycle) to make my point. The benefit, however, is that the point was made, and the mama is still breastfeeding at 8 months with the intention of going for at least a whole year.
I'm particularly struck by the invasiveness of formula marketing when i get samples in the mail, or letters requesting that I participate in surveys about the kind of feeding choices I make.
'Why?' one might ask. 'It's just advertising...it's just the way companies reach out to get new customers.'
I don't have any children.
I'm so glad to hear you mention the support you received from your husband. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/citation/body/192951360-2/jorg=journal&source=&sp=15063842&sid=0/N/15063842/1.html?issn=0002-9378&issue_id=16111" rel="nofollow">Studies show that expectant fathers can be influential advocates for breastfeeding.
It's a year later and I am still breastfeeding and I have had 2 nephews since my original post, on my my sis and the other my sil. Both fomula feeding, ARGH!!!! Neither asked for my help - they have their mothers (mine including) that push push push formula! I wouldn't be surprised if they worked for a formula company (kidding, but man oh man!)
I live 5 hours away from them all, it's none of their business how I feed my child and now, I am 5 months pregnant and I get the, when are you going to stop that? I'd like to tandem nurse, so they can just kiss my butt.
I've separated myself from them (my whole family) when it comes to breastfeeding. Easier that way for me, my husband, Lily & almost #2!
[...] Formula companies so vigorously market themselves, that their ads are appearing as “breastfeeding help” on webpage and blog ads. Can you imagine the effect this has on a desperate mother who is not firm in her breastfeeding relationship? It is intentional misleading advertising by the formula companies, but they profit hugely from it. Please visit the following site to learn more about this misleading information. PhD in Parenting – Sabotage [...]
[...] Sabotage (a great piece about how breastfeeding moms are set up to fail) http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/05/04/sabotage/ [...]
Addie - what do you mean by "being too weak to get out of bed is a choice"?
I didn't say that being too weak to get out of bed is a choice. I said that it COULD be an acceptable circumstance to give infant formula:
"There are a number of circumstances in which infant formula is the logical choice for an infant. One such situation would be if the infant is kept in intensive care after birth while the mother is too weak from the delivery to leave her bed."
Sara,
Unfortunately, breastfeeding is free, so there is no money to be had. At a hospital that I used to work at we made a "breastfeeding friendly bag" to send home with our breastfeeding moms. We were lucky that our administrators funded it. With all of the cuts in health care, most hospitals don't consider it a priority.
Lisa,
I didn't read my full reply before replying to you. And I quoted Matt, not me.
Here's what I'm saying:
There are medical reasons why the mother cannot breastfeed. But there are very few.
There are medical reasons why a mother cannot be pumped. But there are very few.
A mother who is too weak to get out of bed to go to the NICU can still be pumped. If she chooses not to pump, then it is her choice. I am not saying that it is her choice to be too weak. But if she is medically stable, then she can still provide milk for her baby.
What we must all realize is that breastfeeding is all about choices. And we have to own up to our decisions. If you CHOOSE not to breastfeed, then feel confident in that decision. I CHOSE to breastfeed through YEARS of hurdles and sacrifice for my youngest. (My older two went more smoothly.) And I am confident in that decision.
If I could go back in time, I would have worked much harder and gotten more help with BFing. But instead, I chose to exclusively pump for my baby due to latch issues. Pumping has it's advantages and disadvantages. I am lucky to be blessed with an oversupply of milk and only need to pump 4x/day to make way more than my baby needs. The first few months of round-the-clock pumping, bottle-feeding, dealing with pump parts and bottles, etc were horrible, but now pumping is not difficult at all. It gives me more freedom and allows other people to feed my son.
I still wish BFing had worked out for us and am determined to succeed with my next child. I'm proud to say my baby is 6.5 months old and has only had formula a few times (and this was during the first week of his life, before my milk came in). I plan to continue pumping until he's one year old and hopefully store some so he can have a few more months of milk even after I quit. I know EPing is not quite as good as straight from the breast, but it's the next best thing.
I do have plenty of cans of formula that I received as samples while pregnant. I am giving some to a friend who BF for 7 months despite having to supplement due to supply issues. She tried everything (including Reglan) to boost her supply to no avail. She was still forced to supplement but still BF for 7 months.
Exclusive pumping is an option, it is not easy, but well worth it. I did not know much about it until I started doing it a few days PP. I wish more women knew about this option. There is a lot of good information and support available online. I do hate pumping (it is not enjoyable like BFing) but my baby deserves the best I have to offer.
Vanessa,
What you are doing for your child, to me, is the ultimate sacrifice. How wonderful it is for your child to have someone who will go through so much to give him the best food. Pumping is such a pain. I had to pump for almost 3 weeks before my third child would latch, and I had reached the end of my rope after that short period of time.
Please, have no regret that you could not provide milk directly from your breast. What you are doing is amazing.
[...] and I) realize that infant formula companies are not really there to support breastfeeding moms, they are there to sabotage them. The Similac sponsorship of the Babble guide goes beyond simple advertising and takes things to a [...]
[...] breastfeeding mothers are. What with HiPP sending formula samples I didn’t ask for, and Google kindly displaying formula adverts alongside e-mails and web pages about breastfeeding (not Google’s fault, mind you; this is all down to the individual companies choosing which [...]
Though I agree with the sentiment of this blog post, I don't think formula samples are necessarily the worst thing in the world. Maybe I'm the exception, but I would have liked to receive some samples. I never did.
And I'd like to add that I had my entire pregnancy and delivery within the US healthcare system. With an OB, in a hospital (I had a great very validating experience in my hospital and my doctor). Somehow the companies totally missed my name and I never got a single sample. It would have helped us immensely because I have to take the occasional migraine medication, and as the baby got older, I just couldn't pump enough for those times. Instead, I had to purchase formula and actually financially support the formula companies. We've used so little formula that we would have benefited from the samples. For my next baby, I hope to get some.
And by the way, we're still breastfeeding at almost 12 months, and have struggled and enjoyed every minute of it. An occasional bottle of formula hasn't affected us. In fact, the thing that gave me the strength to keep breastfeeding during those initial hatd times was knowing that I could always give formula here and there. I never did, but knowing that my breasts could get a break was a powerful thing.
Which is not to say that I don't think formula advertising is deceitful. Specially their supposedly backhanded "breastfeeding support". That really irks me. Maybe I've just been surrounded by a particularly supportive community, but we need to give mothers their proper credit. If they want to breastfeed, they'll do it regardless of whether there's a can of formula sitting in their pantry. Am I being totally naive?
It's more important to make sure people have access to lactation consultants, that people know how to be properly supportive of mother's decisions, and that we normalize public breastfeeding. And to that end, Annie, I think your blog is doing a wonderful job giving people tools for that.
Cupcake's Mama:
Thank you for the comment.
I think the problem with formula samples is that moms often turn to them in a moment of desperation, rather than a thought out decision to supplement. My guess is most samples get torn open at about 4am. A Canadian study did find that people who were sent home from the hospital with formula samples were much less likely to be exclusively breastfeeding a couple of weeks later than those who were not sent home with any. I wrote about that here: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/17/new-study-on-impact-of-free-formula-on-breastfeeding-rates/
In addition to what Annie said about sabotage, the formula samples and advertising increase the cost of the product in the stores. So they hurt poorer formulas who rely on formula, whatever the reason.
[...] hospital. Surfing the web looking for breastfeeding advice? The formula companies will try to deceive you into clicking on their ads by pretending they are about breastfeeding. We need to push to make compliance with the WHO [...]
I had a friend who breastfed her 3 children from 5 - 6 months. She was cynical of those who gave up by 6 weeks , saying 'They didn't really want to do it.' My friend said that with her first child, she got the best help in hospital from a domestic, who had breastfed.
She also did not appreciate that not everyone had a mother who was successful with breastfeeding, [or maybe did not attempt it] who could help.
I told her about another friend who gave up breastfeeding her 1st child at 3 weeks, due to bad medical advice, about an abcess. Friend 2 pumped milk and discarded it for a day or so, then asked her health visitors advice. She was told by the time she was off the medication, she would not be able to make enough milk. [The doctor had told her, if the meds affect the baby, stop breastfeeding.]
My poor friend had a horrific time. Going from 2 hourly nursing to stopping completely made her engorged and worsened her problem. Some ff mums might say 'at least she could see what the baby was getting.' It just made her more anxious, until she accepted her baby would only take half the recommended amount every 2 hours.
Friend 2s mother and grandma lived nearby, but were both victims of bad advice, so could not help.
I helped her to see she should be angry not guilty. When she got pregnant with child2, her mother and grandma were surprised she wanted to bf, 'As you had trouble last time.' Her husband, however, remembered the trouble they had with formula. [child 1 turned out to be allergic to cows milk, so they switched to soya. They changed doctors, when they found it could be got on prescription, but not told by old doctor.]
I think there was a problem with soreness in the first month, but with proper help, and her new knowledge , she continued to bf, until child 2 self-weaned, as did child 3.