Were you sold out for a sandwich?

Last week a breastfeeding counselor named Megan posted the following story on a message board for lactation professionals:

I was just visiting a friend who had her baby yesterday (April 19) at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook, PA.

She told me that an OB/GYN at the hospital said to her, "Lipil formula is the best."  My friend replied that she was breastfeeding. 

The doctor responded by saying, "Well I figured, but if I tell you that 'Lipil is the best', then we get free catered lunches from Panera!"

The National Alliance for Breastfeeding Action has received many reports of formula salespeople conducting contests to see which nurse can influence the most mothers to use formula. 

One contest was for the nurse who collected the most formula bottle caps.  Nurses would go into each mother's room with a bottle of formula, whether or not the mother was formula feeding, open the bottle, pocket the cap, put her name on the cap and place it in a box to be counted at the end of the contest period.

I've heard of one hospital where the formula company salesman used to go into the nursery - where there are newborn and sick babies - and clip formula company logos onto the nurses' stethoscopes.

Then there are the goodies for tired and overworked nurses.  One of my friends who worked in a hospital in California says that she got so tired of hearing the nurses call out "Hey, the formula company guy brought frappuccinos again!"  At another hospital the formula company rep brought would bring in a gigantic box of Godiva chocolates at the holidays - which sat in the breakroom next to the lactation consultant's homemade oatmeal cookies.

That's why the Ross training manual says, "Never underestimate the importance of nurses. If they are sold and serviced properly, they can be strong allies.  A nurse who supports Ross is like an extra salesperson.”  (Abbott Labs v. Segura, 1995)

Did you experience anything like this?  Want to fight marketing on maternity wards?  Check out Ban the Bags and No Free Lunch.  I particularly like their pen amnesty program.  If you'd like to complain to the hospital mentioned above, here is their email comment address.

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Comments

[Stephanie (Adventures in Babywearing)]

I am literally sick to my stomach now.

I should post about my experience with a nurse when I had my first child- it wasn't regarding nursing or formula, but rather the pictures that they take of baby as a newborn in the hospital- you know, the ones you can order that cost a lot of money?? Well, we had taken a ton of our own pictures and video and didn't feel the need to have the hospital photos done, so we didn't sign up for them. The nurse looked at me and said, I just want you to know that I had another mom do the same thing. They had taken their own photos and didn't get the hospital pictures, and when they got home, their baby died. They really wished they had taken those photos to have of their baby. WHAT!?! This was my FIRST baby and she's telling me this? What kind of nurse is that? And yes I reported it!

Steph

[Tanya Lieberman]

What?!? That is the strangest, most insensitive thing I've heard in a long time. Good for you for reporting it!

[Nicole Apostola]

It's equally important to compliment hospitals (and staff) who are trying their best to encourage breastfeeding. When I had my son (2.5 years ago), I had a c-section becuase of pre-eclampsia and was having a tough time establishing a latch. Every single nurse told me that she would be there when I tried to feed him (to call them if they weren't in the room with me at the time he needed to be fed). Not one ever told me that I'd need to use formula and were really supportive.

(They even protected me from the whole photography thing -- I was way too exhausted to deal with saying no and we didn't need it at all.)

[Tanya Lieberman]

Nicole,

Couldn't agree more. (And that's not just b/c I'm an LC!) I see lots of doctors and nurses going out of their way to help, in spite of this kind of pressure, and it means a lot to them to hear that it's appreciated.

Tanya

[RCM]

I hate hearing these types of stories.

My hospital was FABULOUS with the breastfeeding support. I don't remember being offered formula, but they had a lc sent into my room at the first sign of trouble on my end. I also had nurses throughout the day in my room helping me out. They also encouraged all new families to attend a new baby class before we could leave the hospital to stress the importance of breastfeeding and the support the hospital offered families.

[Heidi]

Oh my that is sickening!

I have to say that I was so lucky to deliver at a birthing center where the nurses were all extremely supportive of breastfeeding. My nurse made sure to help me get my son latched on very soon after he was born and she was so helpful. I wish everyone could have that experience.

[Sarah]

This is unbelievable.

I can't believe that any doctor would risk sacrificing the health of a tiny patient for a sandwich.

And how could a hospital let a salesman (not a doctor, nurse, etc)walk into a nursery for the purpose of advertising?

I ignored a lot of formula advertising when my daughter was born, but if I hadn't already been really committed to breastfeeding I might have thought twice - especially if a doctor told me that a brand of formula was the best way to feed my baby.

[Tanya Lieberman]

Nice response to this post here:

http://reizamara.blogspot.com/2007/04/were-you-sold-out-for-sandwich.html

[Ewokmama]

This does not surprise me at all. I work in a hospital and we are inundated with sales reps. It's insane!

I had a mixed bag of nurses when I gave birth to my son. Most of them were great and really helped me with breastfeeding, but there was one (who claimed to be knowledgable and experienced) who, on the second night when my son was freaking out and nursed for 3 hours straight, came in and took over and convinced us to give him formula because "he was hungry." We were already having latch problems and I truly blame her for the time it took to get breastfeeding figured out. Not only that, but I didn't see a lactation consultant until the afternoon of day 2 of my son's birth because she only works a couple times per week (there is only one LC at the hospital and this hospital has the lowest breastfeeding rates of the 3 in the area - it's so sad). Oh, and I was sent home with a diaper bag full of formula, too. It makes me so mad to think of it.

At least I can be proud that I got everything figured out and have been going strong for 9 months. I try not to feel guilty about the 2 ounces of formula he got in the beginning.

[Tanya Lieberman]

Sent by email:

Sad but true. Formula sales reps have nurses wrapped around their fingers. Free pens, notepads, ID tag holders, snacks, lunches, holiday gifts, free diaper bags (so the nurses can carry their lunch & such), the list goes on & on. Recently, there was a program nearby sponsored by one of the formula companies. The event included dinner at a pretty nice restaurant and a speaker talking about the "aging workforce" of nurses. So, even when the main intent is not to tout their product, formula companies are working their evil magic on nurses and converting loyal (free!) advertisers.

I'm so disgusted by it all. Yet, the many loud voices of protest pale in comparison to the $$ these companies wave.

-Beth

[Elise]

When we left the hospital my husband, baby ans I also left the diaper bag filled with formula, cool-packs to reduce the pain of not feeding, and labeled "Breastfeeding starter kit."

A nurse chased us down the hall: "You forgot the diaper bag!" she cried.

"But we don't need it." we replied.

The nurses at the desk looked shocked. I felt awkward, and mumbled something about already having a diaper bag and living in a small house. But I now wish I'd said something about formula reps. Something useful, not mean, but thought provoking.

[Abby]

I realize this post was written a while ago, but wow. Just reinforces the idea that the formula/drug companies will do anything to sell their products. And the poor moms who are struggling are at their mercy, really.
I had a mixed experience at the hospital where my daughter was born. I'm having my second baby there, too, but I know a lot better now than to let the nurse try to pull one over on me. The first nurse I had in pp did not want me to succeed at breastfeeding and because I had a c-section her excuse was "you need to rest." No, I need my baby. At least my baby was cooperative and wouldn't take the bottle (good girl!), so they had to bring her in anyway. The sad thing was, my husband was there for the very purpose of helping me out through those first 12 hours, and the nurse was horrible. I don't know why I didn't, but I should have reported her. She didn't even bring me my pain meds when I needed them and the tech who was on the shift about had a fit when she saw I was over an hour late on those. You don't mess around with the pain of surgery.
For the rest of my stay, the nurses didn't really try to push formula or "rest" on me. My mom did make us get the pictures done, but they were terrible, and my husband is a photographer, so this time, we're bringing the baby home to do our first pics.

[Abby]

I also wanted to add that though the hospital pushed the bag on us, I took it gladly, because my mom works with a pro-life group, and many of the moms who don't understand the benefits of breastfeeding will give their babies formula. I gave her all my formula "samples" that I got in and out of the hospital. They just don't quit once you get home, but at least I had someone to give the formula to. I would recommend this to anyone who gets the cans in the mail, just take them to a women's center or shelter. I also got a lot of the "coupons" that were like checks, and she gave those out to her moms, too.
I felt a bit guilty perpetuating the formula thing, but if I was helping other babies get food, even if it isn't the best food, I felt okay. But I won't be taking the bag this time, no matter what the nurses try to tell me.