Propaganda from formula companies *Rant*

[9jawife]

For the past several months I've been receiving mail from Enfamil (I'm starting to realize they must have got my information from the Motherhood Maternity store.) Normally I just chuck it in the recycling bin but for kicks I decided to read it this time. Blah blah blah about breastfeeding is best, then down towards the bottom.. "Did you know? By 3 months after birth, about 64% of moms feed a combination of breast milk and formula, or exclusively with formula. It's good to start researching your feeding options now so you'll be prepared." Yeah, thanks Enfamil. I have researched. I know that 98% of moms are capable of breastfeeding, so my chances are pretty good. I also know that store-bought formula isn't the only option for people who can't breast feed. Soy is the absolute worst (I've been jumped on before for saying so-albeit on a different sub forum here-but I'll say it again.) I believe soy formula is all Enfamil makes. The "science" they tout is 100% industry-funded b.s. They say their product is "close to breast milk" but that is not true. There are many components unique to breast milk that formula just cannot reproduce. I know I am preaching to the choir here. It just makes me angry. Everything is about money these days. If we just had more education, and breast feeding were better accepted in our culture, maybe more women would breast feed. Fake reassurance from Enfamil doesn't help the situation. It makes it worse. When my handsome little boy is born, I'll nurse him proudly. I won't wear a burkah-like garment, either. If someone doesn't like it, too bad. I'll stare anyone down, any day.

 

[MommyJogger]

Yeah, it's a terrible idea to give MM any of your info. A lot of us in the states learned that one the hard way. I still get gigantic "sample" containers in the mail. DH and I are making bets on whether the mail will stop when DS turns 1 and we're not even in their pool of potential customers anymore.

 

[optimistic1]

Well glad to know its because of motherhood maternity that enfamil has been giving me free samples.....thoughtful but I don't ff.....

 

[Janers]

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

 

[MommyJogger]

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

I called in once, just to see, asking why my "6 week old" was nursing more frequently than usual. I was promptly told my milk was drying up, that it happens to the best of women, and was asked for my address so they could send more free sample. Now THAT should be illegal.

 

[Janers]

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

I called in once, just to see, asking why my "6 week old" was nursing more frequently than usual. I was promptly told my milk was drying up, that it happens to the best of women, and was asked for my address so they could send more free sample. Now THAT should be illegal.

Oh my goodness! No way! That is awful, imagine all the mamas out there who really do need advice. How sad is that, and you're right, that should absolutely be illegal.

 

[FarfromHome]

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

I called in once, just to see, asking why my "6 week old" was nursing more frequently than usual. I was promptly told my milk was drying up, that it happens to the best of women, and was asked for my address so they could send more free sample. Now THAT should be illegal.

That is so wrong!

 

[Skittleblue]

Wow! I saw the number on some stuff they sent me, and I instantly assumed that if I called a formula company for bf advice, it would be wrong. I hate that I was right. I wonder how many women trust their advice.

I still can't figure out how enfamil got my work email. I don't ever use that for anything. Sneaky!

 

[9jawife]

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

I called in once, just to see, asking why my "6 week old" was nursing more frequently than usual. I was promptly told my milk was drying up, that it happens to the best of women, and was asked for my address so they could send more free sample. Now THAT should be illegal.

:-O horrible.

 

[Feronia]

Ugh, that explains why I received so much formula propaganda in the mail! DH and I used to look through all the junk and make fun of all of the underhanded ways they would push people to use formula, even while touting the benefits of breastfeeding.

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

I called in once, just to see, asking why my "6 week old" was nursing more frequently than usual. I was promptly told my milk was drying up, that it happens to the best of women, and was asked for my address so they could send more free sample. Now THAT should be illegal.

That really SHOULD be illegal! How horrible! I can't imagine anyone would call a formula company for legitimate advice, but the fact that they're giving such terrible information is sad.

 

[staralfur]

I received sooo many free formula samples in the mail before my baby was born, and then I struggled so much to breastfeed that i used some. I know it isn't the end of the world, I didn't use much but I still regret it.

I caught wind of a formula company that offered breastfeeding advice... I saw posts about it on facebook, now that is a scary thought!

I called in once, just to see, asking why my "6 week old" was nursing more frequently than usual. I was promptly told my milk was drying up, that it happens to the best of women, and was asked for my address so they could send more free sample. Now THAT should be illegal.

That's terrible.

 

[Larkspur]

That sort of thing IS illegal in New Zealand (no free samples etc) and we have one of the highest breastfeeding rates in the world. Enough said?

 

[supertabby]

That's shocking! Nestlé have done similar practices, including in developing countries where access to clean water and facilities to sterilise aren't always available.

https://info.babymilkaction.org/nestleboycottlist

Here in UK free samples of infant formula are illegal. It's also illegal to advertise formula aimed at 0-6 months or put it on special offer. All infant formula must have a disclaimer on the packaging stating that exclusive breastfeeding is best for first 6 months and formula should ideally only be used as a substitute when bf isn't possible. Unicef and World Health Organisation want this to be global practice and they have been battling Nestlé on their practices for decades.

 

[supertabby]

Do you get much government support on bf in the States? Curious as the formula companies appear to be (unethically) offering helplines?

Here we have breastfeeding peer support, funded by the NHS and staffed by trained volunteers. There's one run each weekday in our town, in a different place each day so Wednesday might be close by but other days are a drive away. You can just drop in and chat to other mums and have a session with an advisor. They really helped me including diagnosing thrush (we had to see doctor to treat). It's a free service.

 

[Janers]

In Canada where I live, we have good breastfeeding support that is government funded. We have access to IBCLC in the hospital for help immediately after birth, and then once we are home they are available over the phone, and/or in person. There are no formula samples given out in the hospitals, and breastfeeding is always encouraged.

However I'm 29 years old, all my friends either have little ones, or are having babies now, and I'm the only one who breastfed more then a few weeks. I love breastfeeding, I love to talk about it, and i'm very proud of my breastfeeding relationship. So the other day when my friend came over, and exclaimed how she can't believe my LO is so beautifully chubby on breastmilk alone, I was at a loss for words. She had no idea that all a baby needs is breastmilk, and no formula.

They are all well educated, successful people who are amazing parents, but for some reason breastfeeding just fell off the radar for them.

 

[Skittleblue]

In the U.S. it seems to vary widely. In some places, there seems to be a lot of support, but in others there isn't even legal protection if you need to pump after returning from your 6 week maternity leave. Support in the hospital is the same way. When my lo was born, we had lactation consultants visit twice and were given info about support group meetings that took place there once a month. The meetings are all during the workday, though, so that was no help once I went back to work. There is a number that the hospital gave that I can use to call them if need be, but anything else they charge for. Meanwhile, my sister in law had her baby last week In a different hospital but the same town. She got almost no support at all - one lc visit was all. Apparently it's at the hospital's discretion how much support they provide. I just found out last week (from my mom who handles purchasing in the biggest hospital in the area) that some formula companies are providing not only the samples free to the hospitals, but any formula that is used while a baby is in the hospital as well. That explains why they were so quick to push supplementation when we were in the hospital.

 

[MommyJogger]

In the U.S. it seems to vary widely. In some places, there seems to be a lot of support, but in others there isn't even legal protection if you need to pump after returning from your 6 week maternity leave. Support in the hospital is the same way. When my lo was born, we had lactation consultants visit twice and were given info about support group meetings that took place there once a month. The meetings are all during the workday, though, so that was no help once I went back to work. There is a number that the hospital gave that I can use to call them if need be, but anything else they charge for. Meanwhile, my sister in law had her baby last week In a different hospital but the same town. She got almost no support at all - one lc visit was all. Apparently it's at the hospital's discretion how much support they provide. I just found out last week (from my mom who handles purchasing in the biggest hospital in the area) that some formula companies are providing not only the samples free to the hospitals, but any formula that is used while a baby is in the hospital as well. That explains why they were so quick to push supplementation when we were in the hospital.

Agree with this. ^ I live in a pretty crunchy area, very liberal, a college town so there's a bias toward people with advanced degrees. As long as you don't give birth on a Saturday (because you're discharged early Monday), you get a LC visit if you absolutely insist. And then that shows up as a huge charge on your insurance 'right to know' info they send you to tell you how much was covered for your visit. (My hospital charged my insurance for a LC visit even though I never got it, because I requested it and no one took it off of my visit summary when she never came by.) Lots of lip service, but no real support, and lots of nurses calling themselves lactation consultants who aren't IBCLC and don't actually know anything about bf. Nothing I know of that's provided by the government, though. WIC will pay for formula; not sure about breast-pump or other bf supplies, so maybe they put some money there? But certainly nothing government-sanctioned where you call and someone will come out to help you for free. You definitely leave the hospital with a lot of formula here, though, no matter what your feeding choice.

 

[MommyJogger]

Wanted to add: but I'm pretty sure if I'd given birth in, say, California, it probably would have been vastly different re: natural birthing and bf support.

 

[summer rain]

Do you get much government support on bf in the States? Curious as the formula companies appear to be (unethically) offering helplines?

Here we have breastfeeding peer support, funded by the NHS and staffed by trained volunteers. There's one run each weekday in our town, in a different place each day so Wednesday might be close by but other days are a drive away. You can just drop in and chat to other mums and have a session with an advisor. They really helped me including diagnosing thrush (we had to see doctor to treat). It's a free service.

We have formula company helplines and their associated websites in the UK too, and it's a legal loophole that the companies take advantage of as it is the only way they are allowed to promote first stage formula (though they claim it is only offering essential product info) and yes they do claim to offer breastfeeding advice which no doubt is not factually accurate. I emailed a big formula company recently as I had noticed someone was selling fake money off coupons for their brand on ebay however when sending the email via their site I had to tick boxes agreeing to hear about their formula milks in order for the email to go through! So I did but I put this big disclaimer that I did not want to receive any info from them but just letting them know about the ebay coupons. Thankfully I haven't received anything from them since.

Formula companies also product breastfeeding help sheets, branded pregnancy due date calculators, tape measures and so on and these are not illegal and though they have been banned in many NHS trust areas they are still allowed in others. Breastfeeding support varies enormously from area to area as well, in my actual neighbourhood there is no BF support available the nearest groups are at least two miles away and all of them are held at 9am on a weekday. My kids are home educated but it would be nigh on impossible for me to get on a bus with them all and go to one and I would think for parents with other kids who attend school and nursery they would struggle to get to the group in time. Although things have improved verrrry recently in my area in terms of how hcps think of BF, it used to be an area where lip service was paid to 'breast is best' but in reality it was formula that was pushed and promoted xx

 

[9jawife]

Do you get much government support on bf in the States? Curious as the formula companies appear to be (unethically) offering helplines?

Here we have breastfeeding peer support, funded by the NHS and staffed by trained volunteers. There's one run each weekday in our town, in a different place each day so Wednesday might be close by but other days are a drive away. You can just drop in and chat to other mums and have a session with an advisor. They really helped me including diagnosing thrush (we had to see doctor to treat). It's a free service.

There really isn't any government support. The poor regulations on maternity leave (not all companies have to offer it) don't make it any easier. There is an organization with local chapters that holds meetings, called La Leche League. I think they might be international actually? That's our only real source of support. They're supposed to help out in the hospitals, but that's hit or miss as I hear.