Propaganda from formula companies *Rant*

[9jawife]

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.

They pushed you to give the baby formula?! Oh..hell no. No way is my baby going to be some marketing tool for the formula companies.

 

[IrelandsOwn]

I never intended to formula feed and yet I have a cupboard full of samples that I got in the mail and from well-meaning friends. Also have some Vitamin D drops from Enfamil

 

[9jawife]

I never intended to formula feed and yet I have a cupboard full of samples that I got in the mail and from well-meaning friends. Also have some Vitamin D drops from Enfamil

I'm willing to bet they're D2 (rather than D3)....not easily absorbed and actually toxic.

 

[IrelandsOwn]

I never intended to formula feed and yet I have a cupboard full of samples that I got in the mail and from well-meaning friends. Also have some Vitamin D drops from Enfamil

I'm willing to bet they're D2 (rather than D3)....not easily absorbed and actually toxic.

I have no idea because I refuse to use them!

 

[BellaRosa8302]

I got the enfamil vitamin d drops sample from my pediatrician when i was told exclusively breastfed babies need a vitamin d supplement (which she said is a new recommendation as of 2 years ago). I looked online at reviews prior to using the encamil ones and found out they have so much artificial crap in them and people complain that they give their babies very bad gas pains and cause vomiting! Carlsons d drops were recommended - checked the reviews - it's all natural and it's one drop you can put directly on your nipple - and it's tasteless. Showed the pediatrician at my next visit & she approved - said they were provided with the enfamil samples & that's why they were given out - said she didn't even think to look at reviews on it. Glad I did!

 

[Janers]

My daughter is anemic and has been on iron supplements for quite a while now, and they are also made by Enfamil, they really have their hands in everything.

I can't find any other alternative either.

 

[lyricsop03]

Yeah, formula companies really suck. I hate the companies... not the poor women who actually need the formula for their babies. I wish milk donating was more common, then no one would feel the need to use formula.

 

[MommyGrim]

Where I live (Kansas) they've just recently started pushing BFing over formula. (Along with skin-to-skin and no paci's) When I gave birth to DD I was asked NUMEROUS times if I wanted to FF, the nurses kept saying how much easier it was etc etc, and I had to CONSTANTLY say that I want to BF her and I wanted no formula in the room (they still brought in those pre-bottled ones) and then they send me home with a 'diaper bag' that was FULL of formula coupons and sample cans. That was nearly 3 years ago though. Last week my cousin had her son, and said that they have mandatory skin-to-skin, no paci's available, and they no longer supply ANY formula. If you want to give your babies formula or a paci you have to buy it yourself and take it to the hospital. Plus the hospital I'm going to now (not the same as with DD) they have a HUGE BF support area right on the maternity ward and I'm SO excited I'm going to need it to learn how to tandem feed with the twins but I think more area's in the US are becoming more BF friendly. I even have my "right to BF" card in my wallet in case I'm NIP and someone starts to get offensive (which they usually do =/) I can take out my card and show they the law that is in place in Kansas that acknowledges that breastmilk is what is best for baby, and my right to feed my child (or children) in public without harassment. I'm happy I live in a BF-friendly state!

 

[Unbridled]

I'm from rural Georgia and I received NO support in regards to breastfeeding. The hospital I gave birth at advertised that they had a lactation consultant, so when I went in for my induction I stressed how important breastfeeding was to me and how much I wanted to see the consultant for help.

Well, she did come the evening after Maddox was born. I'd been struggling all day to get him to latch and was desperate for some help and reassurance. She spent five minutes with me (if that), told me that my large breasts and flat nipples would make it "difficult" and then added, "Do your best. If it doesn't work out, I recommend Enfamil."

That's the advice I received from the lactation consultant! And she charged my insurance company a decent chunk of money to give it to me! The memory makes me angry to this day.

 

[MommyGrim]

I'm from rural Georgia and I received NO support in regards to breastfeeding. The hospital I gave birth at advertised that they had a lactation consultant, so when I went in for my induction I stressed how important breastfeeding was to me and how much I wanted to see the consultant for help.

Well, she did come the evening after Maddox was born. I'd been struggling all day to get him to latch and was desperate for some help and reassurance. She spent five minutes with me (if that), told me that my large breasts and flat nipples would make it "difficult" and then added, "Do your best. If it doesn't work out, I recommend Enfamil."

That's the advice I received from the lactation consultant! And she charged my insurance company a decent chunk of money to give it to me! The memory makes me angry to this day.

Wow! I'm at a total loss of words! That is fucking ridiculous...

 

[Janers]

Wow is that lactation consultant getting a commision from Enfamil or something?? That's completely ridiculous!

 

[Unbridled]

Wow is that lactation consultant getting a commision from Enfamil or something?? That's completely ridiculous!

I wouldn't be surprised if she was. (Although I misspoke; it was actually Similac she recommended.) The hospital was full of advertisements for that brand, and the staff all stressed that I was "entitled to free samples" even after I told them I wanted to breastfeed. My hubby said the lactation consultant's name tag even had the Similac logo on it, right above her name. I didn't notice that though. I was too busy slipping into a fog of rage at her behavior.

I have to say, I consider it a personal triumph that I managed to nurse him without any supplementation until he was six months old and started solids...and that's I'm STILL nursing him now. I chalk that up to a great hubby supporting me and my own stubborn nature. God knows I didn't get help anywhere else.

 

[Super G]

Wow is that lactation consultant getting a commision from Enfamil or something?? That's completely ridiculous!

I wouldn't be surprised if she was. (Although I misspoke; it was actually Similac she recommended.) The hospital was full of advertisements for that brand, and the staff all stressed that I was "entitled to free samples" even after I told them I wanted to breastfeed. My hubby said the lactation consultant's name tag even had the Similac logo on it, right above her name. I didn't notice that though. I was too busy slipping into a fog of rage at her behavior.

I have to say, I consider it a personal triumph that I managed to nurse him without any supplementation until he was six months old and started solids...and that's I'm STILL nursing him now. I chalk that up to a great hubby supporting me and my own stubborn nature. God knows I didn't get help anywhere else.

Wow, just wow. This is just unbelievable. Lactation consultants sponsored by Similac. What's next, stop smoking advisors sponsored by Marlboro?!

Seriously though, this is awful. Women who want to breastfeed are being terribly let down. I'd want to write a letter of complaint.

Well done you for perserving despite this rubbish support.

 

[summer rain]

I have heard of some LCs in the US being seemingly paid by Medela and other pump manufacturers too now on the surface that sounds great, but there have been cases where moms have been bullied into buying a high end pump of one of those brands before being allowed to leave the hospital, and moms told to pump from day one and then when it isn't successful (and pumping colostrum is more miss than hit), being told there is something wrong with their supply and they will need to pump of course using the preferred brand that the LC is working for. At the end of the day they want to sell pricey breast pumps as opposed to helping moms BF successfully xx

 

[AC1987]

When my LO was born in a hospital here in NC, I asked to speak to a lacation consultant, she didn't exactly help, first the nurse I had after birth was awful! She kept telling me I was starving my baby, and to give formula, it was before I knew about cluster feeding so I didn't know why my LO was feeding constantly, and I was told "I don't have any milk yet, therefore I need to supplement with formula" wth!? They didn't even tell me about colostrum, which I know I for sure had.


Now I must add, I do not have anything against formula feeding, however misinformation I do!