Prenatal Goody bag from Ob/gyn office

[Anonymous]

Perhaps unsurprising, given I delivered at a "baby-friendly" hospital, I just got a lot of reading materials that shamed any woman for ever having a moment of doubt about exclusively breastfeeding.

This included a pamphlet on information about "feeding options" that went on at length about how to pump safely store breastmilk but didn't once mention anything about how to best/most safely use formula.

I'm sure that withholding of information will be of great help to the women without paid leave, workplace support to pump (lets face it, the ACA protections on that front as well as PUMP can only do so much), and at wits end to take care of their new baby. Or for women who cannot, or do not want to, breastfeed for whatever reason.

Anyways, I didn't get anything from my OB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t really make sense imho to have an ob office give out formula samples. I was under the impression that many babies needed certain calories etc that peds could help determine.

I’m grossed out by the idea of this being in an OB office vs a pediatrician where the actual babies are patients. Such a waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t really make sense imho to have an ob office give out formula samples. I was under the impression that many babies needed certain calories etc that peds could help determine.

I’m grossed out by the idea of this being in an OB office vs a pediatrician where the actual babies are patients. Such a waste.

I'm curious what grosses you out? Women overwhelmingly make the decisions on what feeding method is best for their families, particularly given their breasts are (hopefully) under their full control. A lot of woman stock up on feeding supplies, including supplies be to support breastfeeding, formula, or often a combo. A first-time mom isn't going to be going to a pediatrician before the baby is born and it can be a relief to have all desired options covered, so samples can help with that...and are a LOT less expensive than buying a full-size container of formula that may never get used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t really make sense imho to have an ob office give out formula samples. I was under the impression that many babies needed certain calories etc that peds could help determine.

I’m grossed out by the idea of this being in an OB office vs a pediatrician where the actual babies are patients. Such a waste.

Grossed out is an overreaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t really make sense imho to have an ob office give out formula samples. I was under the impression that many babies needed certain calories etc that peds could help determine.

I’m grossed out by the idea of this being in an OB office vs a pediatrician where the actual babies are patients. Such a waste.

I'm curious what grosses you out? Women overwhelmingly make the decisions on what feeding method is best for their families, particularly given their breasts are (hopefully) under their full control. A lot of woman stock up on feeding supplies, including supplies be to support breastfeeding, formula, or often a combo. A first-time mom isn't going to be going to a pediatrician before the baby is born and it can be a relief to have all desired options covered, so samples can help with that...and are a LOT less expensive than buying a full-size container of formula that may never get used.

Because I think it’s gross for formula companies to pad their bottoms lines by throwing away something so many people struggled to access, and I think it’s gross for an OB to participate.

I think a formula- feeding mother walking out of the hospital with a boatload of free samples is great— bonus if it’s one of the specialized formulas like nutragamin which is so expensive and sometimes hard to find, and the RTF which is a game changer for parents of multiples.

But give it to the parents who are using it not to sit and go bad and be thrown out in the houses of people not using it. The pediatrician sees the baby before they leave the hospital, let them give the samples not someone who literally never cares for the baby once it’s born.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps unsurprising, given I delivered at a "baby-friendly" hospital, I just got a lot of reading materials that shamed any woman for ever having a moment of doubt about exclusively breastfeeding.

This included a pamphlet on information about "feeding options" that went on at length about how to pump safely store breastmilk but didn't once mention anything about how to best/most safely use formula.

I'm sure that withholding of information will be of great help to the women without paid leave, workplace support to pump (lets face it, the ACA protections on that front as well as PUMP can only do so much), and at wits end to take care of their new baby. Or for women who cannot, or do not want to, breastfeed for whatever reason.

Anyways, I didn't get anything from my OB.

This is so dumb. Breastfeeding is a universally unknown thing until you have a baby and every woman lactates, for how long and how much depends on the woman and how much support she has. The hospital was clearly trying to offer support for one of the toughest things *all women* find themselves suddenly figuring out.

You clearly have some unresolved issues you should work through if you feel attacked receiving generic pamphlets on lactation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad? If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad? If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

I would perhaps ask the question differently— why does a particular company think they should give you samples and in whose interest? And what do you think placing the samples in your healthcare providers office is supposed to communicate?

Again I think this is especially gross following the formula shortage. Pediatricians offices were being inundated with calls seeking samples— too bad the companies had sent them to the OBs offices instead, in an effort to create brand loyalty among mothers who might not even ever use formula at all. Corporate greed that leaves parents scrambling for formula while it goes bad in a nursing families hospital bag is basically the definition of “Bad Capitalism”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad? If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

I would perhaps ask the question differently— why does a particular company think they should give you samples and in whose interest? And what do you think placing the samples in your healthcare providers office is supposed to communicate?

Again I think this is especially gross following the formula shortage. Pediatricians offices were being inundated with calls seeking samples— too bad the companies had sent them to the OBs offices instead, in an effort to create brand loyalty among mothers who might not even ever use formula at all. Corporate greed that leaves parents scrambling for formula while it goes bad in a nursing families hospital bag is basically the definition of “Bad Capitalism”

You’re right, you should move to China! No one giving out samples there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad? If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

I would perhaps ask the question differently— why does a particular company think they should give you samples and in whose interest? And what do you think placing the samples in your healthcare providers office is supposed to communicate?

Again I think this is especially gross following the formula shortage. Pediatricians offices were being inundated with calls seeking samples— too bad the companies had sent them to the OBs offices instead, in an effort to create brand loyalty among mothers who might not even ever use formula at all. Corporate greed that leaves parents scrambling for formula while it goes bad in a nursing families hospital bag is basically the definition of “Bad Capitalism”

You’re right, you should move to China! No one giving out samples there!

You understand that calling out instances of corporate greed that disadvantages the vulnerable is an extremely American thing to do? Did you read “The Jungle” as a child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad? If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

I would perhaps ask the question differently— why does a particular company think they should give you samples and in whose interest? And what do you think placing the samples in your healthcare providers office is supposed to communicate?

Again I think this is especially gross following the formula shortage. Pediatricians offices were being inundated with calls seeking samples— too bad the companies had sent them to the OBs offices instead, in an effort to create brand loyalty among mothers who might not even ever use formula at all. Corporate greed that leaves parents scrambling for formula while it goes bad in a nursing families hospital bag is basically the definition of “Bad Capitalism”

You’re right, you should move to China! No one giving out samples there!

You understand that calling out instances of corporate greed that disadvantages the vulnerable is an extremely American thing to do? Did you read “The Jungle” as a child?

Your back hurting, PP? Incredible amount of backbends it took just there to relate evil corporatism to random office brochures

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad?

It's bad to frame it as a "treat" or a "goodie." It's marketing, and when you are being marketed too, "oooh boy! yay! they are being nice to me because I'm a good girl!" should never be the sole and naive response you make.

Please read that again. I used the words "sole" and "naive." Those were the focus of the sentence, even if you chose to focus on something else.

If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

What is "bad capitalism" is your uncritical and gleeful response to a marketing campaign.

[Anonymous]

^^"to," not "too"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just being nosy and wondering what everyone else, and other ob practices put in, their goody bags after officially learning you're expecting. My old practice gave out a really nice tote bag with a ton of free samples, coupons, brochures, etc. I have since switched practices for my 3rd pregnancy and only got a small plastic bag with some flyers and hardly any samples. Oh well.

What was in yours?

Which practice is giving you advertisements?

Right? The companies have you thinking that advertisements are "goodies"? My practice did none of this; they gave me some damples of prenatal vitamins at the beginning, but were really frank that OTC were just fine.

Exactly. Talk about the business of being born. That's it.

Wait why is this bad? If other women are like me you spend approximately a bajillion dollars purchasing 10 brands of the same thing until you find one that works for your baby. My practice always has lots of samples, including baby formula. Again, how exactly is this an example of “bad capitalism”??

I would perhaps ask the question differently— why does a particular company think they should give you samples and in whose interest? And what do you think placing the samples in your healthcare providers office is supposed to communicate?

Again I think this is especially gross following the formula shortage. Pediatricians offices were being inundated with calls seeking samples— too bad the companies had sent them to the OBs offices instead, in an effort to create brand loyalty among mothers who might not even ever use formula at all. Corporate greed that leaves parents scrambling for formula while it goes bad in a nursing families hospital bag is basically the definition of “Bad Capitalism”

You’re right, you should move to China! No one giving out samples there!

You understand that calling out instances of corporate greed that disadvantages the vulnerable is an extremely American thing to do? Did you read “The Jungle” as a child?

Your back hurting, PP? Incredible amount of backbends it took just there to relate evil corporatism to random office brochures

Not brochures. Samples. Samples of something people were told to ask their pediatricians for— and were desperately asking their pediatricians for— about a year ago. You want to put some glossy marketing in an office about how your product is 99.9% identical to breast milk, and the provider allows it? Great!

You want to give your product to women who will never use it while other women drive 700+ miles to access it for their infants, just hoping to build brand loyalty in the people who got “goodies”? Nope, that’s an easy “corporate greed is disgusting”