Another "why I love my dh" thread

[NYCVeg]

Last night we were peacefully sitting on the couch reading and all of the sudden dh bursts out (making me jump out of my skin): "You know what really makes me angry?"

He says, "How can anyone NOT think that giving a newborn a bottle will make it more difficult for them to bf? I mean, if you take all the work out of it, what's their incentive to learn?" This was totally out of the blue, by the way. He then had some choice words to say about warming incubators vs. skin-to-skin contact and blankets.

And, in other optimistic news, my MOM received a free box of formula the other day. We have no idea how--she never gives out her information; she must have bought my sister something at one of the Destination Maternity stores and they actually sold her credit card billing info (b/c the formula went to her office, where the credit card bills go, not to her home). Anyway, she asked what she should do with it, and I just said to write "Refused" on it and send it back. And she said, "Can I write 'We breastfeed' underneath?" (She didn't bf, by the way...she was, of course, given the "shot" because the medical miracle of formula was there to save her babies. : )

[Sarah]

If your mom tells them that "we breastfeed" - her address will be bumped to the top of the list and she will get even "better" (or worse depending on your POV) promotional materials... a mom's club tried this- when they filled out a questionaire (which of course did not reveal that their questions were going to be used for marketing formula to them) they were asked if they were going to breastfeed or formula feed... the moms who said they would breastfeed got $4 coupons and boxes of the actual product and the formula feeding moms only got $1 coupons.

Last week I bought some nursing tops from "Motherhood" and within 4 days there was a box of enfamil hanging on my mailbox... the box even said "special offer for breastfeeding mothers inside" I refused it unopened- but I hear that the special offer is for a supplement that I can take to make my breastmilk more like their formula.

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.

[NYCVeg]

Originally Posted by Sarah

If your mom tells them that "we breastfeed" - her address will be bumped to the top of the list and she will get even "better" (or worse depending on your POV) promotional materials...

I know--I told her simply to write "refused" b/c she would be targeted more aggressively if she indicated that "she" planned to bf. But I thought the impulse--from someone who never even considered bfing 4 kids--was pretty cool!

[sapphire_chan]

Now, here's my thinking on this. How much do the stickers cost to make? How much does it cost the formula company to send a sample to NYCVeg's mom? I say that she should note that she's a breastfeeding supporter and send them *all* back with a sticker. Then, after the 20th or so, call up their corporate office and lay into them for sending solicitations to a place of business and threaten litigation if the address is not removed from their records immediately "I'm 50 years old, young man, I assure you my children have long since weaned. This is appalling..."

ETA: assuming it's samples, if it's just coupons, that won't be too inconvientent for the receptionist and she could just keep sending them back until her stock of stickers runs out. ( and then start stuffing them into the return envelopes of credit card offers, I'm sure her co workers might have a few.)