Coupons at the doctor

[DBZ]

I'm newly pregnant and went to a practice to check them out and get my blood drawn. I was interested in this office because it's just a midwife and a one doctor. However in their waiting room there was a things offering $5 off "organic" similac and another thing telling me to ask for this particular hospital bag because it is great for bottles. I was rather disgusted and used the hospital bag ad to hide the coupons. I wanted to toss them both in the garbage though!

This may be a deal breaker for me and this office. Part of me wants to cancel the appt I have tomorrow, but the other part of me wants to point out how horrible it is to have these things in the faces of pregnant woman!

What would you have done?

[mamabadger]

Did they also have pro-BF literature, LLL posters, or anything like that in addition to the formula stuff?

[Sagesgirl]

I'd go to the appointment and ask them to explain themselves, as they really should know better.

[miche28]

My family docotor has/had the same type of thing up (we'll see if it's gone next week).

I let her know that it was not a positive step for her patients and their babies the first time I noticed it at DS's well-baby appointment. The next time I brought in a copy of the summary of the International Code, along with several LLL brochures and told her to send anyone she likes to us/me.

She did say that she never brings up formula first and only makes a recommendation when requested (she breastfed her three boys and never batted an eye at my BF of DD to age 2.5, so I'm inclined to believe she's not pro-formula, I'm just not sure she's pro-BF enough).

Anyway, if you have it in you, definitely ask and perhaps suggest that they contact the local public health office or LLL for more suitable promotional materials.

[folkgirl]

I saw a perinatologist when I was pregnant and her office gave me one of those "breastfeeding support" bags with formula inside. At the time I was a little annoyed, but after my baby was born I got to thinking about it and I did some research and learned more about the negative effects of those bags. It made me upset to think about it, especially because I love this doctor so much and hate to see her pushing this kind of propaganda. If I get pregnant again and I see the same peri (I hope to), I may bring it up with her. I don't think it would deter me from seeing her as a patient, though. I have such trouble finding a caring, low-intervention provider that I wouldn't jeopardize that just because we don't see eye to eye on those damn bags. I guess in this case I'm putting myself first and I'll have to do my lactivism in other areas of my life.

[SPOpa]

Originally Posted by Sagesgirl

I'd go to the appointment and ask them to explain themselves, as they really should know better.

Agreed.

[melissakc]

Yeah, that would really bother me too. I'd ask them about it.