Open Letter to Medolac Laboratories from Detroit Mothers

16 comments on “Open Letter to Medolac Laboratories from Detroit Mothers”

• January 12, 2015 at 1:19 pm

  Jodine Chase says:

  Thank you for asking these questions. I would also like Medolac to make public the names of the hospitals that are buying or using their human milk products, and the research studies that show that they are safe for fragile, premature babies in NICUs – in particular, in for babies born addicted to illegal or prescription drugs. Why aren’t these babies ALREADY receiving donor human milk? Why are we experimenting on these babies? (Clinical Trial report of research planned by University of Louisvillem in partnership with Medolac.) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02182973 “This study is designed to develop pilot data on the acceptability and benefit of donor human milk for infants undergoing pharmacologic treatment for NAS. Specifically, gastrointestinal (GI) sub-scores, as well as total scores, will be compared between infants historically fed formula and those enrolled in a 2-week donor human milk study period.”)

• January 12, 2015 at 7:09 pm

  George Kent says:

  Dear BMBFA –

  The “Open Letter to Medolac Laboratories from Detroit Mothers” is right on target. Thank you for articulating the major concerns.

  Calling Medolac to account is a very useful thing to do. Another good way to respond would be to show how the type of thing Medolac tried to do actually could be done well.

  Before I explain that, permit me to introduce myself. My name is George Kent. I was a professor of political science at the University of Hawai’i until my retirement in in 2010. I continue to teach on-line for the University of Sydney in Australia and Saybrook University in Oakland, California. In recent decades my work has centered on children, food, and human rights, in various combinations. I now focus particularly on the feeding of infants and young children, from a policy and human rights point of view.

  Recently I have been working on a paper on “Ethical Issues in Paying for Breastmilk”, a draft of which is available at http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kent/EthicalIssuesinPayingforBreastmilk.docx It was prompted by the recent New York Times piece on Medolac, and the way in which Medolac has been giving the idea of paying for breastmilk a bad name. I would welcome comments on this draft.

  As indicated above, I think it would be useful to get beyond abstract discussion of the issues and instead actually show how paying women who share their breastmilk with others has good potential. The benefits to both women and children could be substantial.

  I understand that some people find the idea of paying for breastmilk inherently distasteful. I have no interest in persuading anyone to do anything they would not want to do. But maybe some of you in BMBFA would be interested in exploring the idea.

  Here is my perspective on this, as conveyed recently to a friend who is a leading breastfeeding advocate:

  /quote/
  The work of NGOs to test the idea of paying women to share their breastmilk could follow the thinking of Muhammad Yunus about social business, as described in his book, Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism. Yunus’s idea is that people who want to do some sort of social good can do that in a business-like manner. Applying this to the discussion here, a group of creative breastfeeding advocates could start a business of buying and selling breastmilk with the primary purpose of improving the health of infants and young children. However, they would recognize that some money would have to be earned to cover the expenses of the operation. That would include paying the women who provide the breastmilk and also paying all the workers who operate the organization.

  Of course there would be a variety of problems to overcome, as in any business startup. But if the managers of the project were mainly interested in the “bottom line” of improving children’s health rather than the bottom line of taking home a lot of money, it could work well. It is worth trying.
  /unquote/

  Please let me know if you would like to discuss this.

  Aloha, George Kent
  kent@hawaii.edu

• January 13, 2015 at 1:20 pm

  Darlene Henderson says:

  I am a Canadian of Ukrainian not African decent — I have worked in NICU and used donor breaast milk for premature and ill babies. I have donated to our milk bank; for N0 money incentive. Mothers in Canada are NOT paid for their milk!! It leads to many extranious problems!! Mothers pumping just for profit to the health detriment of their own children.

  This open letter to Medolac is “right on target”. As a Lactation Consultant I have assisted many new Canadians to our country — adjusting to a new culture is difficult and traumatic!! As a Woman, Mother, NICU nurse, Lactation consultant I am very aware of the horrific history of the African American Mother. During slavery their infants were sold or murdered so they would wet nurse “white” babies of their masters. I have read the stories in the museums on James Island in the Gambia — the squalid prison were west African capives were held before “shipment” to England and America.

  This whole operation of Medolac smells of “exploitation” — and rubbing salt into old wounds. Makes my stomach turn and my chest ache. I am enraged that Medolac is “retending” to be supporting and pomoting breastfeeding among women who historically choose not to breastfeed because of prior use and abuse of them as human beings!! Why are the not “freely” distribuing donor milk to Detroit hospitals and Mothers to encourage and supplement their efforts to breastfeed – it is time to “pay” for past exploitation, not exacerbate it!! Make breastfeeding normal and non-threatening for African American Mothers — help them heal, empower them, give them back to themselves AND their babies.

  God bless;
  Darlene

• January 13, 2015 at 1:31 pm

  Darlene Henderson says:

  I apologize for my typos. My brain works much faster than my hands. I hope my message comes across as totally supportive of this open letter to Medolac.
  Blessings;
  D

• January 13, 2015 at 5:42 pm

  Darlene Henderson says:

  Medolac is a trademark of NEOLAC – a cow’s milk based formula manufacteurer!!?? Therefore, by association Medolac is violating the W.H.O. Code??

• January 14, 2015 at 11:06 am

  Nia Cunningham says:

  I support breastfeeding

• January 14, 2015 at 4:02 pm

  Ernestine says:

  Thank you Darlene. Your comment is right on point.

• January 21, 2015 at 1:32 am

  Mahira Ali says:

  Dear Mothers of Detroit,
  Message from Pakistan. Please be assured your breast milk is priceless. I am so happy to read your open letter to Medolac. Your breast milk will reach the shelves whether you want to believe it or not. I understand the hardships of your community and i’m certain that’s the reason they have targeted you in particular. Your questions will be answered i’m sure, in a very diplomatic way expressing their concerns to give all newborns a good start at life. However, would it not have made more sense for this company to initiate door to door awareness encouraging expecting mothers to exclusively breastfeed their newborns for the first 6 months, complementary feed after the first 6 months, yet continue to feed their babies for up to 2 years? Do you know it has been proven breast fed babies IQ level is higher than babies fed on synthetic milks, it is ready available at the right temperature for baby, it includes sufficient water baby requires, its an antibiotic, it doesn’t cost a cent and money used to buy synthetic milks can then be used for fruit, or other nutritious foods for the family. It has numerous health benefits for mother as well and helps you get back into shape. Bonding well, one can never say enough regarding the bond. The benefits of breast milk within the first hour of delivery is the richest form of milk (cream) and gives baby the best chance at life. Every mother can produce sufficient milk to feed their newborns, very few mothers are unable to. This is what you all need to understand. If the reasons this company is giving are sincere, i would ask why you don’t start a community group for mothers who are unable to feed and initiate a milk mother group instead? Only you can put an end to this exploitation and violation of your rights. As i said your milk in one form or another is going to be sold for hundreds more then you are paid. I wish you all the best.

• January 21, 2015 at 2:17 am

  Mahira Ali says:

  Dear Mothers of Detroit,

  What your body produces and provides to your newborn is nothing short of a miracle, the health benefits for both mother and baby are nothing short of a miracle. When every women’s body is blessed with this natural, priceless gift, why would you allow yourselves to be exploited and paid when at the end of the day, the only beneficiary is Medolac? Start your own movement for mothers having difficulties with feeding eg milk mothers or hospitals may do the same by keeping a data base of mothers able to support new mothers unable to breastfeed for any reason and believe me the reasons are few.
  Talk about the value of your breast milk, its not worth ending up on the shelves. I’m shocked at the stock they have already managed to accumulate. Best wishes

• January 21, 2015 at 2:42 am

  Mahira Ali says:

  Please encourage the petition be signed from outside US as well. We would all like to see Medolac accountable for their actions. “Milk for Profit” is unacceptable.

  Best wishes.

• January 21, 2015 at 11:37 am

  Darlene Henderson says:

  Over the last few years I have been to Western Africa 5 times. The pictures most vivid in my mind is babies who never loose touch with their Mothers bodies except to be bathed and diapered. Breastfeeding anytime, anywhere, any age is just so normal and commonplace it is not even a matter of discussion — just done!! Mothers there share their milk to family, friends and ill babies of strangers (in hospitals) they take into their fold.
  As a Mother, NICU nurse, Registered Lactation Consultant, Milk Donor, LLLC Leader I am in my glory — everything is right with the world. When I come home I cry with frustration at how “BACKWARDS” North America is!! How we believe in formula manufacturers more than our own bodies!
  African-American Mamas, take back your heritage, be strong and fight the ghosts of the past — SHOW NORTH AMERICA HOW TO BE THE BEST STRONG, PROUD, CONFIDENT, SUPPORTING, LOVING (BREASTFEEDING) MOTHERS <3
  God bless;
  D

• January 21, 2015 at 11:54 am

  Darlene Henderson says:

  AMEN Mahira Ali!! You are SOO right!! Stop the exploitation and support EACH OTHER in protecting yourselves and your babies from the illness and death caused by formula companies — which Medolac is; being part of Neolac. Who knows what they do to Mother’s milk to make it “fetch top dollar” for them – while paying nothing for something as priceless as human beastmilk!!
  Thank you for your words of wisdom!
  Blessings
  D

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