Ugh! Is there anything we can do??????

[DahliaRW]

Let me just say, reading this forum has made me very irked with all the formula companies. Receiving literature from them in the mail that has information that makes it sound like formula is as good or almost as good as bfing ticks me off. Seeing ads in magazines and on the internet and at doctors offices, etc. really irritates me. :

I want to do something about it. How did other countries make it illegal for these companies to advertise? Is there any possibility of doing that here?

Basically, I think I'm just really frustrated with the fact that I think so many more women would bf if the formula companies didn't make ff so appealing (and I'm not against ff if you can't bf for a legitimate reason).

So, ideas? How can we battle these companies?

[Monkeybutt]

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[HeartsOpenWide]

easiest solution? have your baby at home. When you have your baby in a hospital the information goes in a registry and the formula companys know when some one has had a baby. They will send formula to a mother at just the right times when mothers typically feel like giving up. When a box of free formula shows up at the door is apears to be an easy out...seem illegal to me, I don't know how they get away with it.

[Zamber]

One way to help is the Nestle Boycott. Check it out at www.breastfeeding.com.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by HeartsOpenWide

easiest solution? have your baby at home. When you have your baby in a hospital the information goes in a registry and the formula companys know when some one has had a baby. They will send formula to a mother at just the right times when mothers typically feel like giving up. When a box of free formula shows up at the door is apears to be an easy out...seem illegal to me, I don't know how they get away with it.

I actually was lucky enough to have my ds at a baby friendly hospital where they don't accept formula samples nor do they give them to new moms. They also have a great pp care center with lactation consultants (which I utilized). I just wish more hospitals were like this! And if it's hard to convince women to bf, it's even harder to convince them to have their baby at home!

[Durannie]

Here's my 2 cents

This idea may require a small investment on your part, and/or you could contact your local La Leche League Leader for help:

Order back issues of LLL's magazine, New Beginnings. I think they sell a box (of 50???) for about $20. Distribute them to local ped's, hospitals, etc. Have your local LLL Leader put a flyer in them or at least a sticker on the front w/name(s) and contact #s. You can get LLL catalogs for free as well.

You could even get involved w/your local LLL group by volunteering to pass out flyers to local health care providers.

Hospitals pass out the free formula in part because the formula companies have LOTS of $$$$$$$ to give out samples. Since LLL and most bfing advocacy doesn't have as much $$ behind them, it takes the effort of outstanding citizens such as yourself to get the word out. If you are able to invest some time and/or $$ to help, believe me, it will be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by Durannie

This idea may require a small investment on your part, and/or you could contact your local La Leche League Leader for help:

Order back issues of LLL's magazine, New Beginnings. I think they sell a box (of 50???) for about $20. Distribute them to local ped's, hospitals, etc. Have your local LLL Leader put a flyer in them or at least a sticker on the front w/name(s) and contact #s. You can get LLL catalogs for free as well.

You could even get involved w/your local LLL group by volunteering to pass out flyers to local health care providers.

Hospitals pass out the free formula in part because the formula companies have LOTS of $$$$$$$ to give out samples. Since LLL and most bfing advocacy doesn't have as much $$ behind them, it takes the effort of outstanding citizens such as yourself to get the word out. If you are able to invest some time and/or $$ to help, believe me, it will be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

I'll have to look into that. I just get so discouraged sometimes by all the moms I meet who switch to formula before a year for no good reason (or never try bfing - again I have no issue with ffing if bfing is impossible for some reason). I feel like the formula companies play a large part in that as well as the lack of education on bfing. I figure if I can do something to promote bfing (which out being so pushy I turn people off from it) it'll at least make me feel better in some small way (it always feels good to battle the big formula companies).

[Fiercemama]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW

How did other countries make it illegal for these companies to advertise? Is there any possibility of doing that here?

Other countries have legislated how, when and where the formula manufacturers can advertise and market, just as we do here with other products that have serious health risks - cigarettes and alcohol. The are forced to follow the WHO Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (which the formula companies actually participating in creating. They threw it all out once Nestle, the world's largest food manufacturer, joined the party.)

Send letters to your local and national public health representatives and let them know that breastfeeding is a PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

To find out more, check out the WABA website. They work with UNICEF, LLL, and many other international organizations trying to protect and promote breastfeeding: http://www.waba.org.my/