I've just remembered something - a thread of interest to anybody who's been following the Avent stuff

[AwayInAMunker]

When DS1 was a tiny baby and I was trying desperately to think of ways to get more bf support in hospitals (what's changed then, eh?!), I emailed Avent to ask whether they'd sponsor breastfeeding counsellors in hospitals.

They replied, saying that they didn't feel it was appropriate, because they made bottles and it would be a conflict of interest.

Interesting in itself, no? Given that they're now doing all this bf promotion - but no real actual on the ground help for women...

Doubly odd seeing as they also sell all the other paraphernalia associated with bf-ing such as pads, pumps, shells and shields. But not breast, obviously.

I like the fcat thatthe avent breastpumps in boots have a sign saying 'ask member of staff for a demo' Just goes to show they don't think a breast is important

Hunker, when you asked if they would sponsor bf counsellors were you being mischevious?

If you heard that the bf support in a hospital was sponsored by Avent, I would have thought you'd be dead against it and question their ability to be impartial?

You were being mischevious, weren't you?

JV, at the time, no I wasn't being mischievous. Naive, hoh yes. Remember this was when DS1 was about 4mo. Before I knew much about bf beyond my own experience.

I see, I take it you wouldn't welcome it now though?

Would depend how it was done, JV, but not if it had the tone of the Vicki Scott stuff, no. In fact, I'd have to oversee it for it to be done in any way well

Well, of course!

oh yes, i remember you telling me this.

Hmmm... I'm not sure if I'd be entirely comfortable with Avent sponsoring bf support in hospitals; I can (sort of) see why they said no.

Oh, yes, I can see why they said no. I'm glad they did, really.

But it makes all this "Vicki Scott and Avent want to help you with breastfeeding" all the more disingenuous, I think.

disingenuous?

Bullshit, I think you'll find

there I said it

Yes it sure does.

It's a bit difficult for poor old Avent really isn't it? I mean, breastfeeding's a bit lo-fi isn't it? You don't actually need any of their stuff in the "normal" course of breastfeeding (iyswim, I mean I'll need a good pump when I go back to work, but as a general rule...) so it's a bit of an uphill struggle for them.

Those poor, poor marketing people. My heart goes out to them.

I wouldn't mind nearly as much if there were more honesty in the whole thing, actually.

Like they said, "Look, we know you want to breastfeed, but unless something dramatic changes (or you post on mumsnet), you're likely to get shit support, so you're very likely to turn to our products, here's the range".

Have you seen the Formula company carelines thread I started? Formula manufacturers don't even know how to give correct advice about their own product. Heck, they don't even know what their own product is!

I have an Avent pump which says on the box 'Helping mothers breastfeed for longer'. I would say that for me, this particular breastpump didn't play a major part in how long I have fed for. Things that did?

...Staff actually giving proper bf support at my local 'Baby Friendly' hospital when we were readmitted when DS was 1 week old

...Support from friends and family

...DH being fantastically supportive, both on emotional and practical level - he's even become a bit of an advocate of extended feeding.

But then those things don't come in a box from Avent do they?

Ah Mae you just reminded me about bf status, whislt reading my maternity notes I saw it says my hospital has the status but it isn't on the website

Actually I think my Avent pump will help me breastfeed longer, as DD taking a bottle of breastmilk lets me get out and about more. Means I won't be tempted to stop just to regain some nights out with my buddies.

But I reckon our local breastfeeding cafe nursing me through mastitis helped a whole, whole lot more!

You know Avent could actually get in on the whole bf thing properly and make a good deal of cash out of it, they could market things liek nipple cream and breastpads and cover both markets. Bet if they had some awesome brestfeeding products then if/when people did stop bfing they'd remember the Avent name and go straight for those bottles etc.

I don't know why one of the bf charities doesn't actually launch their own range of stuff, really. Or all of them band together and do it... Doubt it'll happen (too many politics) but it's a nice idea.

Well, Hunker, it's because they'd need money to fund research, to fund product development, etc etc etc.

If hospitals handed out breastpumps instead of those blardy bounty packs, now, THAT would be helpful.

(yes, I know it's all pie in the sky and requires that funny thing called "money" again).

but the irony for me in all this is I think the Avent pumps are shit anyway though quite happy to have a pump and my Ameda is MUCH better! Will own up to having quite a few Pillocks Advent milk storage cups though...

you see, this was exactly the reason I gave on the Vicki Scott thread which was deleted from breast and bottlefeeding and probably reiterated it elsewhere later on.

that any company which makes a few bf gadgets alongside a range of ff ones are only doing it so that they get noticed because they want to help mums on their way to bottlefeeding expect most mum to bottlefeed eventually.

How strange!

I will admit that despite only being on day 18 of breastfeeding, I have the avent isis pump and its been a godsend. Especially at 4am this morning, with boobs so bloody solid they hurt, Daniel only fed from one side so I expressed the other side.

Helps with the latch first thing in the morning too and means DH can give Daniel his last feed at night so I can go to bed early... I got nearly 7hrs unbroken sleep last night!

Bounty packs need to be scrapped, or at least have USEFUL items in them.... I mean, I have enough washing poweder and fabric conditioner thanks very much!

Lol DJARM.

And yay at 7 hours!!!!

I got the Avent Isis pump from a friend second hand. I didn't like the pump itself but used that weird rubber thing with petals in on my electric pump.

(Sadly my lecky pump has now broken and I need a proper pump for when I go back to work, but that's another story.)