Support for breastfeeding mums is imperative; should Health Visitors receive breastfeeding training from a formula company?

I'm always an advocate for mums to opt to breastfeed for the many benefits to both her and baby. I also believe that it is the role of the healthcare professional to empower and support women to do do. 

Throughout my journey as a mother, I've received some magnificent support, from breastfeeding support workers, health visitors and La Leche League; but have also receive some somewhat lacking support too. Some health professionals have occasionally given ill advised advice and it always makes me question their experience, their knowledge of breastfeeding and their qualifications in order to give advice. 

Some health care professionals appear to be keen to push the use of formula, rather than attempting to overcome the obstacles of the breastfeeding mother. Often simple recommendations in terms of latch and positioning can combat the issues that a breastfeeding mum may encounter. Women deserve respect and an understanding ear at these times of challenge in order to move forward after encountering issues. 

I'm always intrigued to what HCPs receive in forms of additional training in order to up skill themselves in order to provide the best support for mums. Recently, I heard that there was to be a Health Visitors National Conference. With an intriguing list of topic areas to be covered, one of the topic areas was breastfeeding; an area of great importance in the role of health visitors, especially in those early days. A fantastic opportunity to arm our Health Visitors with a wealth of knowledge to support parents.  However, I was dismayed to see that this seminar was sponsored by a formula company! Moreover one with a rather sketchy past in their promotion pf products and their ethics in the wider world. Wrong on so many levels! Looking through the agenda for the remainder of the training, it was also apparent that yet another formula company was supporting another seminar. 

Is this the way forward? Should CPD and training be influenced by companies promoting themselves and their products? We live in a world surrounded by advertisements for formula, filling mums with doubt of their ability to feed their children and our society has become a one in which formula feeding is seen as the norm. The biological norm, breastfeeding, receives little promotion and as a front line of support, our Health Visitors need to receive the best training, by those 'in the know', not a formula company trying to promote a product! Shame on you!