This Saturday Walmart stores in some locations will be holding "All things Baby" events, featuring an "exclusive Nutrition & Feeding Seminar sponsored by Similac." The events promise free stuff, which I assume means free formula. The Similac brochure for the event doesn't mention breastfeeding at all.
Colleen, from My Baby and More, pointed this out, and since then "nurse-outs" have been planned in a number of communities. The nurse-outs will not be protests, but a chance to provide information on breastfeeding to the families who attend. To find one in your area check the lactivism Yahoo group, or the Mothering lactivism message board.
I was curious if a Walmart near me was planning one of these "All Things Baby" events, so I checked their website, which allows you to enter your zipcode to find a store hosting this event.
It turns out that no "All Things Baby" events are planned at the WalMarts in Northampton or Amherst, Massachusetts, but one is planned in Ware, about 30 miles away. Why? I'm guessing that Walmart knows that the hospital that serves Northampton and Amherst has a near 90% "breastfeeding on discharge" rate, while the hospital that serves Ware has a "breastfeeding on discharge" rate of 58%. No one ever said they weren't smart.
Thanks to Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 for several of these links.
