Archive Nov. 3, 2009: Formula companies campaigning for ignorance!

In a recent forum discussion for “Birth as You Feel”, an advocacy group comprised of midwife students, midwives, nurses, psychologists, moms, docs and concerned citizens, we discussed the following question. Are we pro-breastfeeding, against formula or both? Certainly, in a country where most women would like to breastfeed but are told they cannot, this issue must be addressed respectfully and gently.

It is difficult to remain neutral about formula companies because of their heavy influence on Romanian maternity wards. The above picture comes from the following Milupa formula website of Romania at http://milupa.ro/o-lume-fara-deficiente-nutritionale/despre-campanie.php The ironic pro-formula banner reads ‘A World Without Nutritional Deficiencies’ when breastfeeding is actually the best combatant of iron deficiency anemia. The ad boldly states that 2 out of 3 children at 1 year of age in Romania suffers from iron deficient anemia. The solution is wordless and clear- Milupa formula is the answer.

Their data is referenced as being from the most recent IOMC and UNICEF studies. What is ironic is that these studies typically make the following conclusion- breastfeeding practices must be encouraged! Breastfeeding is the free and most efficient solution to this issue (in addition to having a myriad of other benefits).

Today, I went to a local well-known maternity ward and saw posters for formula companies all over the waiting room. The World Health Organization strictly forbids overt pro-formula advertising and UNCIEF requires hospitals to accept no formula company funding or advertising as a condition of baby-friendly hospitals.

The most common reason for breastfeeding cessation in Romania seems to be, ‘I don’t have enough milk’ or ‘my milk ran out’. Since we know that only 1 in 10,000 women have a true inability to breastfeed... the logical question is how can these women have ‘no milk’? No support rather than no milk might be a more accurate response. Romanian women are not unable to breastfeed but their culture, medical providers and family members often provide poor and misinformed advice.

What is the solution? Empowering moms, dads, docs, midwives, and concerned citizens with informed discontentment in current advertising practices, healthcare advice and the general mentality that ‘women’s bodies don’t work’.