"Formula" for pregnant and nursing moms?

[Chavelamomela]

What do you think of this?

Similac has introduced a new product called 'Similac Mom'

http://similac.ca/en/products/similac_mom/

I have many thoughts on this:

1) My first knee-jerk reaction was that "wow, the formula companies will do anything to make money"

2)If they market this to BFing moms, maybe they won't sabatoge so many BFing relationships!

3) The product, although it's first ingredients are water & sugar, is no different than Ensure or other nutrition or diet shakes. 

4) I hope that if they market this to pregnant women, they won't use it as a vehicle to then convince them to switch/choose formula when the baby is born

5)If the company would stick to marketing this kind of product, and end their unethical marketing of formula to vulnerable moms in hospitals, we'd be in a much better place.

What's your reaction?

[GoBecGo]

My reaction is that most women who want to breastfeed fail to establish doing so and end up FF and this company is relying on brand-recognition and brand-loyalty (borne in this case out of trust, "they looked after me when i was PG, so their milk will be the best to look after my baby now") to net as many of those motherbabe's as possible.

Sorry, the baby posted for me!

The mere existence of formula is enough to make women doubt their ability to feed their babies, this is just another flame in the fire.  I don't think the product is "bad" but it it does attempt to help the brand reach the untapped markets (pregnant women and lactating women) their formula doesn't.

This is an unnecessary product which has no real benefits for the women (one could easily whizz up a smoothie with similar properties and fresher vitamins) and is mainly to build a product reliance between the similar company and the consumer.  The phrase "people will buy anything you tell them they need" comes to mind.

[Tjej]

Brilliant marketing idea.  Get the parent to identify with the brand before birth even.  Familiarity=comfort.  Now the BFing moms have a "need" for them too. 

Personally, I strongly dislike it and wish they couldn't make/market it.  But I have to give them props for the brilliance of opening themselves up to making even more money.

Tjej

[ASusan]

SLICK.

I wish I had thought of it.

[kythe]

I do like the idea of a liquid supplement for pregnancy women.  With my first pregnancy, I threw up whenever I tried to swallow pills, so I just stopped taking vitamin supplements.  I know that wasn't my best move, I became very anemic.  I eventually started drinking Ensure just because I could get it down, but it lacks folic acid pregnant women need.  There just aren't any liquid supplements on the market geared specifically for pregnant women.

This is good in concept, but it isn't much of a supplement.  Look at the ingredients:  only 10% of daily value for folic acid, 13% iron, etc for pregnancy.  You could just as well drink Ensure or Boost or some other brand if you need a supplement.  This is very well-marketed, but it isn't a superior product for pregnant (and breastfeeding) women.

[Lisoula]

My first thought was ewww gross....wonder if there is beetle larvae in there, too!

[kriket]

A liquid vitamin or supplement would be one thing, but this is a la Ensure or Pedisure. Where if you don't/won't/can't eat regular food, you can drink one of these and be assured you are getting "complete nutrition"

I loath these meal replacement things. If adults want to drink them, whatever, but the ones marketed to children are the worst. Why learn good eating habits when you can drink chocolate milk all day?

[myk]

i saw that in stores and was like.. well now i've seen everything. i'll stick to my high protein boost if i think i need a little something other than real FOOD.

[amyhulen]

Wow, and I thought it was bad when Enfamil came out with the DHA pills for mom. I would never in a million years drink a product like that. Gross. Obviously these formula companies have NO shame what so ever.

Funny how you don't see breastfeeding support books in the formula isle.

[31rubies]

A well woman has enough sense and confidence to eat sensibly and nourish her babe.  Without  Similac's help.  

Edited by 31rubies - 2/23/12 at 9:25pm

[nicolian]

Even if I didn't think it was totally evil (albeit smooth) there is no way I would ever touch that stuff. Formula makes me gag and that's what I would imagine in that bottle.

[annettemarie]

Hello everyone! I am going to jump in here and remind everyone to please keep the Lactivism guidelines (posted at the top of the forum) in mind when posting. The purpose of this forum is breastfeeding advocacy. It is not appropriate here or anywhere else on MDC to make fun of different types of mothers, Please feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns.