Formula Companies Are Awful - Page 2

[intorainbowz]

Originally Posted by nakagain

Speaking of government...I wrote Presidential hopeful Mit Romeny about a growing group of non supporters who won't elect him solely based on his actions with breastfeeding samples and hospitals in MA. As someone who has worked under him..hes a great guy and has high hopes to change the healthcare system in the US and I really hope he listens.

What did Mitt do? I have not heard about this.

[nakagain]

He reversed the decision of hospital "gift" bags from formula companies being banned in MA.
Not so cool. I hope to personally confront him about it. He has plans on staying at a resort I'm working at..shhh I shouldn't know this but they've already reserved a whole floor and was checking clearance on one of our managers who has worked for past presidents.

[intorainbowz]

Sorry.

So not cool.

Tehe Remember during the Olympics the infamous parking lot incident where he said he said Fetch. No he said F---. DH was there and heard it. DH was a worker there, and said things were going great until Mitt came along and messed stuff up.

[littlemizflava]

they dont want the ones who already are chosing to ff they want the ones who bf so that it is there in the house so when you have a fear or doubt or worry the fomula is right there and the bag i got from nestle baby (the bag is very nice use it all the time actually have 2 ) the bag had fomula and a advent bottle and nipple in it so it only takes a minute to make a bottle for the baby they can only make more money from us the ones who bf but i say sign up for all them get the samples get the diaper bags and what ever else they want to give out we will not feed our kids that but we will waste their money in the process that is my plan

[hunnybumm]

I hadn't even realized that when you fill out that form it is for formula. I also checked the BFing box with DS#1 (very proudly, and proclaimed it to the nurse - this was before I was even educated on BFing really). I got a ton of formula, samples checks, etc. I tried to keep the checks, but there were so many, and I knew I was going to BF so I ended up throwing them away. I did keep all the formula (I remember once getting a box with 4 huge cans in it).

I also signed up with Motherhood Maternity and I am sure some came from them as well. I also got a ton of diaper samples, even though we planned to mostly use cloth.

With DS#2 I gave Motherhood the wrong address and phone number. And we NEVER went to the OB (though I had two appointments, which we canceled) but went to a freestanding BC instead. I didn't get a single formula adverisement or any diapers, though I did sign up for some free diapers from Pampers because by then we had switched to sposies.

I never even thought about those stupid forms your OB has you fill out. I mean, I thought those forms were for the Ob, for their records. NOT to be mailed out to the evil formula companies. If (heaven forbid) I ever have to go to an OB again, hopefully I can remember not to fill out those forms.

BTW Thanks to the OP for your 'experiment'. We all just assume that they try and target BFing woman, now we have some sort of proof. It is really discusting.

[Leta]

Just a little update:

The inundation has continued. I now have three BIG cans of formula and 6 formula checks.

When I was telling my (childless, but bfed as an infant) brother about how disgusted I am about this, he said something similar to a pp on this thread, that is, "Why are you complaining that they sent you stuff when you signed up with them?"

This thread had me totally prepared with a response. I said, "What if you signed up, as your 24 year old self, with Phillip Morris to get free cigarette samples and coupons, and you got squat? Then, you signed up again, and this time said you were 15, and they sent you a carton of cigarettes? Wouldn't you think it was wrong that they were trying to target underage smokers, so they could hook the next generation and keep making money? They won't send you coupons because they've already got their hooks in you."

And he totally got it! We had a great conversation about it.

[hunnybumm]

Originally Posted by Leta

And he totally got it! We had a great conversation about it.

[sntm]

Originally Posted by Leta

Just a little update:


This thread had me totally prepared with a response. I said, "What if you signed up, as your 24 year old self, with Phillip Morris to get free cigarette samples and coupons, and you got squat? Then, you signed up again, and this time said you were 15, and they sent you a carton of cigarettes? Wouldn't you think it was wrong that they were trying to target underage smokers, so they could hook the next generation and keep making money? They won't send you coupons because they've already got their hooks in you."

And he totally got it! We had a great conversation about it.

Great comparison!

[sewaneecook]

I completely agree 100% with you that formula companies are awful, but your experience doesn't surprise me one bit.

My mom's friend is an executive for Ross Lab (they make similac formula). He was part of a meeting where they were brainstorming ways to purposely sabatoge the baby friendly initiative in hospitals! :

FTR, Motherhood Maternity asks all PG women if they plan on BFing. If you say yes, you get all sorts of coupons and formula. The day I went in to labor I got 2 big cans in the mail. I couldn't have used them even if I wanted to ... I had no bottles!

[KrystalC]

Holy crap! This thread just blows my mind!

My OB never had me fill out a form like that and I never got any formula in the mail, fortunately! It's sad that a doctor who is supposedly interested in preserving women's health would sell out to formula companies like that, but all hail the allmighty dollar.

[sewaneecook]

Originally Posted by KrystalC

Holy crap! This thread just blows my mind!

My OB never had me fill out a form like that and I never got any formula in the mail, fortunately! It's sad that a doctor who is supposedly interested in preserving women's health would sell out to formula companies like that, but all hail the allmighty dollar.

Sadly, docs don't know much about BFing. What they learn about it is mostly taught to them from the formula companies.: When the peds are on the FF bandwagon, then it gets moms who are having even the slightest trouble with BFing to switch. It's really sad.

[mamamaris]

I haven't read all of the threads but I had a ?. Is the hospital selling info, or are the companies getting public info from govt. records on births. I have never signed up with one of the formula companies, only told the hospital that I was going to exclusively bf. I have received more formula and checks from companies than anyone I know. I have donated it all and asked repeatedly to be taken off mailing lists and then it starts all over. I never sign up for anything on mailing lists or registries. We've had identity theft and I am extremely wary of who I give info to.

So how do they know?

[Leta]

In my case, I got formula samples, bags, etc. from my OB, and then again sent to my doorstep when DD was born, so I'm pretty sure the hospital sold my name.

Then I signed up on my own, first as a "bottlefeeding" mom, then as a "breastfeeding" mom.

From what I've gathered in talking about this on this thread and IRL, the best way to avoid getting formula samples and other blood pressure elevating promotional materials is to say that you're bottlefeeding. Sick, huh?