Midwifery basics 7. Understanding the detrimental impact of industry upon women’s breastfeeding success

Brown, Dr Amy

Your colleagues are attending a study day in London on maternal obesity during pregnancy. You are looking forward to the event: it’s free, includes lunch and refreshments, and you will be able to take home lots of useful materials. Training budgets in your area have been severely reduced and this is a topic you are very much interested in, so you are looking forward to the event. However, when browsing on social media one evening, you notice a post from a respected friend and colleague who is discussing how the event is funded by a formula company. Closer inspection of the website confirms this. You discuss this with your colleagues the next day: one is adamant that you should all not attend; others are ambivalent, not really seeing what the issue is; one becomes angry saying there is too much pressure on women to breastfeed and this is ridiculous – no one decides to promote formula, just because they went to a study day. The shine has been taken off the event but you’re not sure what to do next. After all, the study day isn’t about infant feeding, so why would there be an impact? And if you’re all aware that the company have funded it and agree that you won’t be influenced, then why would it be a problem? And those materials you bring back will be useful in practice. And how often do you get an opportunity for a day away from the ward to listen to clinical experts free of charge?

The Practising midwife, 2019, Vol 22, Issue 3

1461-3123

10.55975/lscf3609