Nestle boycott...but friend's DD can only tolerate...

[earthmommy2]

the Good Start formula...

I have been getting the coupons (you know the "very best baby" stuff) and have to admit I do keep the info coming because I have liked some of the reciepes that they had...: but a friend who's DH works with my DH recently told me that she wishes she was getting those coupons b/c since she stopped EBF and supplementing with formula the good start is all her DD tolerates.

We are a Nestle free home but have had this stack of Good Start Coupons...am I going against myself if I give them to her? I know FF can be VERY VERY expensive and I want to help out a friend...but I'm so torn!!

[carriebft]

I often think, when it comes to formula, which needs to be bought so many times, that a family is better off forming a budget and fitting formula, a dire necessity if that is what they have chosen to feed their child, into that budget. giving coupons doesn't help them afford the feeding of their child, IMO. (in addition to all the other problems they create)

[carriebft]

In addition, since she is only supplementing, giving her coupons could mean more formula and more formula could mean less breastmilk for the babe.

[Ammaarah]

I have a friend whose baby was totally unable to latch, and my friend could never get anything out with a pump either, and I did send my Good Start coupons to her. It may not be party-line lactivism but I did it.

[bluetoes]

Will she not buy it if you don't give her the coupon? If she will anyway then you might as well help your friend out.

[carriebft]

I don't see how supporting the distribution of formula checks and coupons helps any of us out. They are "outlawed" in the code for a reason. I don't think we, as lactivists, can stand in opposition to formula checks and coupons and hand them out at the same time.

[sebarnes]

IIRC, Nestle formula is not included in the boycott. Those who organized the boycott recognize that some babies will only tolerate a very specific formula and felt it would be an undue hardship on those mothers.

[carriebft]

I would feel the same way if the checks were for similac or other brands not part of the boycott.

ETA: if your friend needs help affording the feeding of her child, you might be able to help in other ways that don't lead to the feeding costing more (coupons=more formula=less Breastmilk supply= more need for formula= more expensive).

[fiveyearsapart]

If she's buying the formula anyway you're just going to save her a few bucks, I see nothing wrong with passing them along. I've used their $12 off checks to buy the formula and put it in our food pantry's box.

[carriebft]

Originally Posted by fiveyearsapart

If she's buying the formula anyway you're just going to save her a few bucks, I see nothing wrong with passing them along. I've used their $12 off checks to buy the formula and put it in our food pantry's box.

SHe's supplementing, which means that her supply is (probably) already in jeopardy. Making formula more accessible may make supply and demand more difficult, leading to even less rbeastmilk for the babe (or possibly, foregoing the breast altogether).

This is how formula marketing works. They understand supply and demand. They understand that breastmilk works on supply and demand, and they know that if they can turn the demand to their own product and lessen the demand at the breast, then they will profit.

Hence, they give coupons for crazy amounts off their product. Why? Because once they hook the person and destroy that supply, the mother has no other choice but to continue to buy.

[carriebft]

From the stickie "what is lactivism":

Mothering Magazine and MDC have a strong commitment to the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which recognizes that advertising formula reduces the number of children that are breastfed and the duration of breastfeeding. The purpose of the code is "contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breast-feeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breast-milk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution." Keeping this in mind, advocating formula feeding by choice is not permitted on the Lactivism board or any other forum at MDC. Additionally, advocating the redistributing or selling of formula coupons, samples, or other freebies is strongly discouraged.

I think its ok to quote that thread, if not

but i think there is good reason it is discouraged.

[TanyaS]

Originally Posted by sebarnes

IIRC, Nestle formula is not included in the boycott. Those who organized the boycott recognize that some babies will only tolerate a very specific formula and felt it would be an undue hardship on those mothers.

Baby Milk Action lists formula companies in addition to a partial Nestle product list (and links to the other products) and manufacturers of bottles and teats.

[jesrox]

Originally Posted by TanyaS

(and links to the other products) and manufacturers of bottles and teats.

OT- I don't know why bottles are included. Many people use bottles to feed EBM, and some mothers exclusivly pump and bottle feed. I understand the motivations for the boycott, but that part seems a bit much.

To the OP- you need to follow your heart on this one and do what you think is best...if your friend is still BF you should try to encourage her pumping, taking galactagouges to see if she wouldn't need to supplement.

[sebarnes]

Originally Posted by TanyaS

Baby Milk Action lists formula companies in addition to a partial Nestle product list (and links to the other products) and manufacturers of bottles and teats.

True, but Baby Milk Action admits it includes items on it's lists that are not included in the official boycott list as given by the Nestle Boycott Committee.

The campaign led by the International Nestlé Boycott Committee primarily targets Nescafé, the corporation's flagship product. But we would encourage you to boycott all Nestlé products until the company stops promoting its babymilk.

http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/products.html



ETA: My information about the Formula not being included is from a letter written by the Nestle Boycott Committee and included in the appendix of Milk, Money and Madness. Things could, of course, have changed in the several years since the book was revised.

[TanyaS]

Originally Posted by jesrox

OT- I don't know why bottles are included. Many people use bottles to feed EBM, and some mothers exclusivly pump and bottle feed. I understand the motivations for the boycott, but that part seems a bit much.

Yes, this is true. Bottles do have a purpose, as does formula. Bottle manufacturers (and baby food manufacturers) often violate the WHO Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. They are not necessarily part of the Nestle boycott, but the manufacturers are often part of the problem of normalizing bottle feeding.

[earthmommy2]

Thank you for all your thoughts...I still haven't really made the choice on weather or not to give her the coupons...Mostly because I am hoping that she will have more success with expressed milk. (she says she doesn't have success pumping) so has to give little one formula when she takes her to day care. Thus why I was considering giving her the coupons...but like others have said, if I am helping her will she opt to just stop BFing? This is a toughie...I want to help her out b/c I know what it's like to be $$$ tight....but I also know how easy it would be to just quit BFing if given the choice. KWIM?

[moderngal]

Maybe you can offer her some Mother's Milk Tea or fenugreek capsules or More Milk Plus tincture (that's what worked best for me) or heck- even bake her some oatmeal cookies to help boost her BM supply.
And if those things don't help and she's really struggling, then I guess I would break down and give her the coupons. But I would try everything else first.

[mommy2caroline]

I'd see about finding her an LC or LLL leader who is knowledgeable on pumping and see if that could help her before giving her the coupons. Also, she says she cannot pump much... do you know what type of pump she's using? if it's not a really high quality one, then she might want to save the money she'd spend on more formula to buy a better pump. Of course, some women cannot get much even w/ a hospital-grade pump... but just some other things to consider before giving her the coupons.

[bdavis337]

If she truly cannot pump enough to supply her child with milk while she's at work and the only formula that child can tolerate is a Nestle product, why make it harder for the family financially? One post mentioned that families should make their budget work around formula - that's a nice idea, but even just daycare amounts of formula are pricey. If she truly cannot pump enough, help her out.

[mamadelbosque]

Umm.. I'd give them to her... I sold two of my formula coupons on ebay... and plan on selling the rest when I get the chance :