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breastfeed helps them justify their own choice. months old only because mom found breastfeeding to be a burden to her
The International Code of Marketing of lifestyle, or found it “gross.”
“Breast Milk Substitutes” is an established set His policy was that no baby was discharged on formula without a
of recommendations to regulate the marketing of valid reason. These reasons were mastitis, HIV, children who were not
infant formulas established by the World Health leaving the hospital with the mother, or the mother was too ill to breast-
Organization. The code was designed to con- feed. Furthermore, if they were going to receive formula from WIC, lots
tribute to the provision of the safe and adequate of paperwork needed to be completed with the physician’s signature. He
nutrition for infants, and advocates breastfeeding made it difficult for nurses to discharge on formula. After this, very few
for infants. The code states that informational babies were discharged to the WIC program on formula.
and educational materials should clearly state
the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding. PRE-NATAL NUTRITION
There should be no advertising or other form In the NICU, the type of diet mother had during pregnancy was never
of promotion of a formula, including handouts, addressed by health practitioners. Many of these mothers had multiple
coupons or free formula. preterm infants and poor dietary habits never changed from pregnancy to
In our NICU, each new mother was given a pregnancy. These mothers were never instructed on ways to change their
folder and case from the infant formula company diets in order to have a healthy baby.
and was sent home with a case of free formula, When I conducted my own dietary history with many of the moth-
coupons to purchase future formula at a discount, ers, I was shocked at how poor their diets were. I estimated that at least
and a medical prescription for the WIC govern- 75 percent of their diets consisted of processed and convenience foods.
ment program to receive free infant formula for Nearly half (46 percent) of these mothers were obese.
six months. The foods that these mothers believed were nutritious were almost
Yet, it is possible to change the pattern of always products that they had heard advertised on television. When I asked
our infant feeding practices, from formula back them to define a nutritious food, the answers I most often received were:
to breast feeding. granola bar, nutrigrain bar, cereal, orange juice, oatmeal, and skim milk.
I once worked as a dietitian in a large teach- The typical proteins these mothers consumed were fried chicken, ham-
ing, indigent care hospital. When I started work- burgers, or other types of processed meats found in fast food sandwiches.
ing there, 100 percent of the infant population All of the mothers routinely consumed sodas. Their breakfasts typically
was funneled into the WIC program for formula consisted of sugary cereals.
at discharge. I surveyed one hundred seventy moms regarding their diets and found
We had a young new pediatrician who un- that 86 percent did not think a poor diet related to preterm labor or an
derstood the cost of the WIC formula program infant’s development; 100 percent did not know that what they ate would
to taxpayers. He found it frustrating that we as affect breast milk production and quality; and 45 percent did not believe
taxpayers were “feeding” a baby until it was six that what they ate affected their own health.

A MESSAGE FROM DR. NATASHA CAMPBELL-MCBRIDE

At the WAPF conference, I met dozens of wonderful people
who were telling me how the GAPS program changed their lives
and the lives of their families. These people have given me an idea:
we need to publish all these stories as a book!
There are millions of people and families out there in desper-
ate situations, who believe the establishment message that there
is nothing they can do to help themselves.
your stories—stories written by real people—will show these
families that there is a way out, that there is hope.
Please write your story and send it to me, Dr. Natasha
Campbell-McBride at medinform@lineone.net. you can provide
your names with the story or just use your initials.
your story may help save many lives! Thank you!

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