DH's thoughts on formula samples...

[Shaunam]

I just had to share. This is basically just a huge brag on how cool my man is.

DH and I were talking in the car the other day (loooong car ride) and we got on the topic of formula. I had recently asked my mom if she had ever given me formula (not a single drop...way to go mom!) and I shared that little nugget of info with DH. His mom had given him a bottle of formula when he was about a month old just because she had some free formula and needed to go out for a few hours. It horribly constipated DH, so she never gave him formula again and his little bro never had any either. Our moms rock!

So...anyways. DH said he never would have had a drop of formula if it weren't for the free stuff his mom had (I don't know if it was samples or what). So begins his rant...

He said that it is really horrible that women are given free samples. "You can't get away from that stuff. It's everywhere. You go to the doctor, they give you some. You check the mail, there's some more. By the time the baby is born, you're practically crapping the stuff. No seriously, you go to the bathroom, look in the toilet and there's a can of good start. If women want the samples, they should mail the company and ask for them. They shouldn't just be given out to everyone. What ever happened to that stockpile we had anyways?"

He went on about how they give you a huge amount before the baby is born and then stop sending it when the baby is a month old. "Get'em hooked, make 'em think it's inexpensive since they have all the free samples." He totally sees right through the formula companies' tactics.

Tha's just a snippet of what he said. He actually ranted for 5 straight minutes before I stopped him and told him he was preaching to the choir. Oh, but the toilet comment...I was .

I'm just so in awe right now. I've never discussed this stuff with him before. Either he's been doing some reading or he's just very observant.

[jessicafairy]

Did you tell him that Massachusetts has just banned the "free formula gifts" in hospitals? No more sending mom home with free formula here!

My personal hope is that now more Massachusetts hospitals will take the plunge and become Baby Friendly!

[devoted2kids]

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians strongly endorse breastfeeding. The following is from the AAP's position paper on breastfeeding, "From its inception, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been a staunch advocate of breastfeeding as the optimal form of nutrition for infants."

Oh really!? You would think if these 2 very influential organizations were that serious about supporting breastfeeding, the hospitals would have stopped the practice of giving away free formula to new mothers as they leave the hospital. Perhaps the income from being a doctor isn't sufficient so they need to supplement their incomes with the perks they receive from the formula companies.

Hey doctors, listen up..... Either you do fully support breastfeeding or you don't. You can't have it both ways. Your patients (the infants) don't get to choose how & what they are fed. However, you DO get to choose which method of feeding you will advocate for. When you become a pusher for the formula companies, you lose credibility!

[Sarah]

Shauna- In case you and Tim don't know about the WHO code... check out this document- I think Tim would really like to read it- he will be shocked.

http://www.who.int/nut/documents/code_english.PDF

This was adopted in the USA as a recomendation- but it's not legislated... I know it's confusing- they are not "breaking the law" but what they are doing is just $hitting all over decent ethical practices and the public health of Americans... and our state legislatures (save for recently MA- applause!) just roll over and let them do it.

Here is what I have for when I get marketing in the mail- I paste one of these stickers on it and ship it back to them on their dime:

Package Refused by Addressee

This shipment and its intent are
a direct violation of the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes.

Article 5.

5.1 There should be no advertising or other form of promotion to the general public
of products within the scope of this Code.

5.2 Manufacturers and distributors should not provide, directly or indirectly, to
pregnant women, mothers or members of their families, samples of products within
the scope of this Code.

5.3 In conformity with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, there should be no point of- sale advertising, giving of samples, or any other promotion device to induce sales
directly to the consumer at the retail level, such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums, special sales, loss-leaders and tie-in sales, for products within the scope of this Code. This provision should not restrict the establishment of pricing policies and practices intended to provide products at lower prices on a long-term basis.

5.4 Manufacturers and distributors should not distribute to pregnant women or
mothers or infants and young children any gifts of articles or utensils which may
promote the use of breast-milk substitutes or bottle-feeding.

5.5 Marketing personnel, in their business capacity, should not seek direct or
indirect contact of any kind with pregnant women or with mothers of infants and
young children.

As a citizen of a member nation of the World Health Organization deserving of government protection from unethical marketing practices which undermine public health, I refuse this package.

[paquerette]

Originally Posted by Shaunam

By the time the baby is born, you're practically crapping the stuff. No seriously, you go to the bathroom, look in the toilet and there's a can of good start.

So that's where it comes from!

No wonder this smilie looks so surprised!

[Shaunam]

Originally Posted by paquerette

So that's where it comes from!

No wonder this smilie looks so surprised!

He does look awfully surprised.

I know about the WHO code and know lots about formula companies, I've just never discussed it with DH before. We've talked LOTS about bf'ing, but we just never had a reason to talk about formula.

I will show him the WHO code, but hopefully he won't rant again. It's exhausting. He'll go for hours.

[AutumnMama]

Too cute!
Sometimes I wish my DH would get a little passionate about some of these things!

[Quagmire]

My DH is intimately familiar with my feelings about breastfeeding So for xmas he had bought a few things for me from Motherhood Maternity, and along with the bag, he brought home a small packet of papers from them. I said "what's that?" and he was like "oh it's a bunch of formula coupons" Of course there were none - I immediately leafed through everything prepared to tear them up and send them back to the manufacturer... freakin DH

[sapphire_chan]

I Sarah's sticker. Talk about a zing! I wonder if there's someway to modify it to put on free formula offered at dr's offices?

Maybe "As a citizen of a member nation of the World Health Organization deserving of government protection from unethical marketing practices which undermine public health, I refuse this package, and am appalled that this doctor's office would condone such practices"?