vent - baby formula scarcity

[Katy]

Corn syrup is in most formulas.  And it's the active ingredient in over the counter anti nausea medicines (they add color and flavor to make it more pleasant). It's very good at calming the stomach.

Evaporated milk and corn syrup isn't good if regular formula is available.  It lacks several ingredients.  But this is a good option if someone can't find formula.

[MercyA]

7 hours ago, Farrar said:

But also... lots of people have trouble and they are in the right to choose not to push through. 

Right. And their choice is no one else's business, full stop.

7 hours ago, vonfirmath said:

Many that are able to breastfeed do not have the supply to cover their kids' needs. This is why I understand these moms' panic. I was SO certain my kiddo was not getting formula. I was going to breastfeed. !! 

Same. I thought it would be a piece of cake. Instead my baby lost weight and cried a lot. She just wasn't getting enough from me and I was a new mother and stressed and trying all different things to help, and I should have put her on formula weeks earlier. I partly blame those damn Baby Wise scheduling books which certainly did not help my supply. I bought one at a garage sale last week just so I could take it home and throw it in the recycling bin.

7 hours ago, MissLemon said:

I think what really gets me angry about this is the judgement over breastfeeding and formula always comes from other women. I never got attitude about it from the men I knew. They were always like "Whatever you need or want to do; it's your choice". 

But the women had opinions. Lots and lots of opinions, but zero support offered. 

Right. I was told to just relax and I'd have enough supply. (That worked just about as well as being told to "just relax" when trying to conceive. Apparently relaxation cures endometriosis. 🙄 )

7 hours ago, vonfirmath said:

"fed is best"

This statement right here is part of what helped me NOT get depressed over my own failure to breastfeed.

Yes. I THANK GOD for formula. My child became chubby and happy on formula and loved, loved, loved her bottles. It was a glorious thing.

[TechWife]

7 hours ago, Spirea said:

I have known at least 5 people who didn't even try to breastfeed. I think all these moms had c-sections so maybe with recovery they didn't want to make the effort, maybe getting things started is harder? I don't know. At least 3 of them didn't work at all. Others had maternity leave. They didn't try. Hard for me to relate as I didn't have surgery, just a natural childbirth and lactation was fine and always seemed so much easier to me than preparing and sterilizing bottles of formula. So I know I had it easy. But it just seems like a lot of people choose formula even when breastmilk is an option.

I just weaned my 18m old and it did occur to me to try relactation to donate milk, but I don't have a good pump, only a hand pump, and really feel done.

Eta. I hope new moms who have the option will see this shortage and choose breastfeeding over formula.

This really bothers me. I breasted my son for 13 months - I think breastfeeding is great. I was and am wholly aware that people make different decisions for reasons that are none of my business.  Frankly, you don’t know everything there is to know about the mom’s & babies that “didn’t even try.” Do you have any idea of the reasons a mom would not breastfeed a baby? Reasons that are absolutely invisible to those around them, yet absolutely crucial for the health & well-being of one or more family members? It’s real. Also -  “I don’t want to” is a legitimate reason to choose not to breastfeed. 

[Farrar]

I think the key is that those of us who support breastfeeding in a general sense should focus on systemic changes - getting better access to lactation consultants, better access to family leave, better support for mothers so they have the time and energy to choose breastfeeding, better access to education, better acceptance of public breastfeeding and private spaces for breastfeeding... And NOT on individual choices. Because those are always going to be variable and personal. The context is the only thing we can and should change.

And then we should all recognize that even if society did a better job of making space for mothers to choose breastfeeding, that this crisis would likely have happened anyway. And that focusing on breastfeeding as some sort of missed opportunity to avert it isn't how it works at all.

[rebcoola]

Babies will survive with all sorts of less than ideal situations. My grandmother misunderstood the doctors orders when my uncle was a baby and underweight and fed him heavy cream, he gained weight and was fine.  When my sister was little they gave baby food at like 6 weeks.  I agree that no official is going to go on record and say do these things because of the liability risk.  Parents will feed babies and healthy babies will be ok. It's the special needs babies in trouble, some have already been hospitalized.

Edited May 20, 2022 by rebcoola
Typos

[Dianthus]

4 minutes ago, TechWife said:

This really bothers me. I breasted my son for 13 months - I think breastfeeding is great. I was and am wholly aware that people make different decisions for reasons that are none of my business.  Frankly, you don’t know everything there is to know about the mom’s & babies that “didn’t even try.” Do you have any idea of the reasons a mom would not breastfeed a baby? Reasons that are absolutely invisible to those around them, yet absolutely crucial for the health & well-being of one or more family members? It’s real. Also -  “I don’t want to” is a legitimate reason to choose not to breastfeed. 

Breastmilk is the best food for babies. Human breastmilk is crazy complex and can't be reproduced. I'm glad there are options for people who cannot breastfeed for any reason. I am aware that people have reasons they cannot breastfeed and those reasons are not my business, and I would not ask. But if a person chooses not to give the best food to their baby just because they didn't feel like it, I think that's sad. I cannot relate to that. Why would you not want the best for your child? I'd never say anything to another mother about it. If someone can breastfeed (no interfering issues), they should. WHO, AAP and probably every other health organization recommends breastfeeding for first 6 months because it's the best option. But if it is not a possible option, then formula is next best. And right now, if formula is impossible, then the next best may be karo/evap or goat milk. I would be figuring out a substitute to feed my baby. It's a horrible situation.

I do hope more people will consider breastfeeding. Once established, generally no shortage issues. Better for the baby, the mother, the environment. There are so many reasons. And it's sad that people in our culture still view it as dirty or gross or inconvenient or that it will ruin their breast shape. I think our breastfeeding rates should be higher.

[TechWife]

39 minutes ago, Spirea said:

Why would you not want the best for your child? I'd never say anything to another mother about it.

You have said it repeatedly to all the other mothers who are reading through this thread. Each time someone reads one of your posts, you’re saying it again.

I think we are all capable of reading up to date nutritional information.

The best thing for a baby’s health and growth is that they are fed. 

[KSera]

nt

Edited May 19, 2022 by KSera
Nevermind

[Melissa in Australia]

1 hour ago, TechWife said:

You have said it repeatedly to all the other mothers who are reading through this thread. Each time someone reads one of your posts, you’re saying it again.

I think we are all capable of reading up to date nutritional information.

The best thing for a baby’s health and growth is that they are fed. 

Not always. I knew a family that were in some super wacky religion and strongly believed that  juiced carrots and celery was the only thing to feed their newborn. They were very judgmental at me for breastfeeding. They claimed their baby was getting way way more vitamins. That poor baby was bright orange, and failing to thrive.

 

[Shoeless]

2 hours ago, Spirea said:

Breastmilk is the best food for babies. Human breastmilk is crazy complex and can't be reproduced. I'm glad there are options for people who cannot breastfeed for any reason. I am aware that people have reasons they cannot breastfeed and those reasons are not my business, and I would not ask. But if a person chooses not to give the best food to their baby just because they didn't feel like it, I think that's sad. I cannot relate to that. Why would you not want the best for your child? I'd never say anything to another mother about it. If someone can breastfeed (no interfering issues), they should. WHO, AAP and probably every other health organization recommends breastfeeding for first 6 months because it's the best option. But if it is not a possible option, then formula is next best. And right now, if formula is impossible, then the next best may be karo/evap or goat milk. I would be figuring out a substitute to feed my baby. It's a horrible situation.

I do hope more people will consider breastfeeding. Once established, generally no shortage issues. Better for the baby, the mother, the environment. There are so many reasons. And it's sad that people in our culture still view it as dirty or gross or inconvenient or that it will ruin their breast shape. I think our breastfeeding rates should be higher.

What a snotty thing to say. 

[Clarita]

I breastfeed both my kids until they self-weaned at around 12 months. 

For my first, because I'm an overproducer, I exclusively pumped for the first month (my newborn baby was choking on my breastmilk). Then breastfeed at night and pumped at the office by day. I did supplement with formula starting at 4 months because I did not want to pump more than 24 oz. during the day (while also feeding the kid at night). Totally selfish because my office was pretty open to letting me do whatever I needed to do for the baby; I just felt too much like a cow. Seriously, options up to and including driving over to the daycare for feeding sessions.

I quit my job when my second came along. So she was exclusively breastfeed because I'm lazy. Then because of my overproducing self, I got an abscess in my breast from mastitis. Apparently I'm one of those women who don't develop a fever from mastitis and/or is way too tolerant of pain. Treatment included 4 days of stuffing a wound.

So breastfeeding can be hard work, and I'm an easy case. If a woman doesn't want to go through all of that for her kid that's fine by me. I mean seriously all that time I spent exclusively pumping for my first I could be reading him Shakespeare. There are probably more obvious results that I read him Shakespeare as a baby than, the fact that I breastfed him all that time. Team FED IS BEST.

[Melissa in Australia]

16 minutes ago, MissLemon said:

What a snotty thing to say. 

I agree that breastfeeding is the best for the baby, and I live in a country where that is recognised and strongly encouraging. Why wouldn’t a parent want the best for their child. So    To support that All hospitals actively encourage breastfeeding and all midwives in the hospitals are trained in teaching mothers how to breastfeed. All child welfare nurses are lactation specialists as well, and as people see them every week or so in the first few weeks after giving birth there is lots of support. there is  also 18weeks paid maternity leave and 26 weeks unpaid, though lots of employers allow a full year of unpaid maternity leave. Breastfeeding is socially acceptable here as well. You see people breastfeeding in public everywhere. 

even just 6 weeks of exclusive breastfeeding has more benefits than any other form of feeding.

 

I strongly encourage you to try reform your country to be more accepting of the whole purpose of humans having breasts

[Shoeless]

6 minutes ago, Melissa in Australia said:

I agree that breastfeeding is the best for the baby, and I live in a country where that is recognised and strongly encouraging. Why wouldn’t a parent want the best for their child. So    To support that All hospitals actively encourage breastfeeding and all midwives in the hospitals are trained in teaching mothers how to breastfeed. All child welfare nurses are lactation specialists as well, and as people see them every week or so in the first few weeks after giving birth there is lots of support. there is  also 18weeks paid maternity leave and 26 weeks unpaid, though lots of employers allow a full year of unpaid maternity leave. Breastfeeding is socially acceptable here as well. You see people breastfeeding in public everywhere. 

even just 6 weeks of exclusive breastfeeding has more benefits than any other form of feeding.

 

I strongly encourage you to try reform your country to be more accepting of the whole purpose of humans having breasts

Wow.  What a condescending response.

 

Like I said above, never any judgement from the dudes, but lots from other women. 

[Melissa in Australia]

40 minutes ago, MissLemon said:

Wow.  What a condescending response.

 

 

Actually I thought your post was the condescending one. That was why I replied to you 

[Rosie_0801]

A raise in food stamps would probably help more women breastfeed. We don't make milk out of nothing.

[Lillyfee]

I breastfed all my 4 kids until they were 3 years old.

However, never in my life  would I judge anybody that can't or doesn't like to breastfeed. 

I honestly don't see any difference between my kids and my friend's kids who decided not to breastfeed for whatever reason.

By the way, I only experienced support in the US with breastfeeding. Even when I did it longer than the average mom. I experienced more judgement  from Germans (especially older ones) and even doctors there who think breastfeeding is good but after 12 months it's suddenly weird. Everybody has different experiences but I only had supportive experiences in the US to do what I think is right for my kids and me.

[Ausmumof3]

I hate these discussion so much. Breastfeeding is hard and I think if the message isn’t pretty strong about both the benefits and the time commitment rates drop off drastically but we can’t talk about it because it’s (legitimately) upsetting and hurtful to many women who have had a difficult start and can’t breastfeed for any reason. But again, if the message isn’t somewhat strong you’re fighting against the marketing budgets of the formula companies. 
 

 

[Carrie12345]

3 hours ago, Melissa in Australia said:

Not always. I knew a family that were in some super wacky religion and strongly believed that  juiced carrots and celery was the only thing to feed their newborn. They were very judgmental at me for breastfeeding. They claimed their baby was getting way way more vitamins. That poor baby was bright orange, and failing to thrive.

 

My #2, #3, and #5 were FTT while breastfeeding, the last one to the point of hospitalization.  #1 and #4 had zero feeding issues, one with basic formula from day 1 and the other exclusively breastfed for nearly a year. None of their feeding or health issues were “cultural”.
No one is talking about being reckless and uninformed.  Ignoring choice and circumstance IS reckless and uninformed.

[fairfarmhand]

As a human species, human breast milk is best for babies 
 

on an individual level, that may or may not be the case.

both facts are true and neither is a slam against mothers. Yet some People use these facts to wound others. 

[Farrar]

6 hours ago, Spirea said:

Breastmilk is the best food for babies. Human breastmilk is crazy complex and can't be reproduced. I'm glad there are options for people who cannot breastfeed for any reason. I am aware that people have reasons they cannot breastfeed and those reasons are not my business, and I would not ask. But if a person chooses not to give the best food to their baby just because they didn't feel like it, I think that's sad. I cannot relate to that. Why would you not want the best for your child? I'd never say anything to another mother about it. If someone can breastfeed (no interfering issues), they should. WHO, AAP and probably every other health organization recommends breastfeeding for first 6 months because it's the best option. But if it is not a possible option, then formula is next best. And right now, if formula is impossible, then the next best may be karo/evap or goat milk. I would be figuring out a substitute to feed my baby. It's a horrible situation.

I do hope more people will consider breastfeeding. Once established, generally no shortage issues. Better for the baby, the mother, the environment. There are so many reasons. And it's sad that people in our culture still view it as dirty or gross or inconvenient or that it will ruin their breast shape. I think our breastfeeding rates should be higher.

On one level, I don't disagree with you. We know scientifically that except in some unusual cases that a healthy supply of breastmilk is the best food for babies.

But no parent makes the best decision on absolutely everything. They just don't. I can guarantee that you made at least a few compromises for your kids. That's because no one is perfect. I also decided that breastmilk was the best and that it was worth it for us. But there are a ton of studies that show that the best way to make sure siblings stick together throughout their lives is to make them share a room. But it drove me nuts. So I didn't. There are a bunch of studies that show that eating dinner as a family at the table has a bunch of long term benefits to health and family dynamics. But dh had a weird schedule, I spent all day with the kids... we could have made it work, but we chose not to. Learning cursive has a ton of brain benefits... I decided not to push for it. I'm just saying. We all make sub-optimal decisions all the time. And I think it's important to recognize that breastmilk is just one of those. It's special in some ways... but it's not that special.

[JustEm]

I really hate the 'why wouldn't you give the best food to your baby shit.' It is a holier than thou judgemental statement that does far more harm than good. And I guarantee the people who spout that nonsense feed their non baby children crap food regularly enough to make them hypocrites. 

I know far to many women who have been guilt tripped into breastfeeding and seriously hurt their mental health doing so with statements like that. 

And it is especially useless during a conversation about a formula shortage because all those women who chose formula and are struggling now can't magically start breastfeeding. So now, not only do they have fear that they can't feed their baby but they also have to have it shoved down their throats that it is their fault their baby may go hungry.

Signed the woman who breastfed all 6 of her children simply because it was cheapest despite it destroying my mental health.

[Catwoman]

9 minutes ago, hjffkj said:

I really hate the 'why wouldn't you give the best food to your baby shit.' It is a holier than thou judgemental statement that does far more harm than good. And I guarantee the people who spout that nonsense feed their non baby children crap food regularly enough to make them hypocrites. 

I know far to many women who have been guilt tripped into breastfeeding and seriously hurt their mental health doing so with statements like that. 

And it is especially useless during a conversation about a formula shortage because all those women who chose formula and are struggling now can't magically start breastfeeding. So now, not only do they have fear that they can't feed their baby but they also have to have it shoved down their throats that it is their fault their baby may go hungry.

Signed the woman who breastfed all 6 of her children simply because it was cheapest despite it destroying my mental health.

I totally agree with you, especially the bolded point, which is so true!!! Breastfeeding your baby doesn't make you some kind of superior mother; it just doesn't. 

I'm so sorry you had to breastfeed when you didn't want to; that must have been awful for you! 😞  I was able to bottle-feed my son, and I am very thankful for that. And I don't have of the any of the so-called "valid excuses" for bottle-feeding that people always mention; I just simply didn't want to breastfeed. I never had the slightest interest in "trying," because it wasn't something I ever wanted to do, so I didn't. My doctor was very supportive and my ds absolutely thrived on his Nutramigen formula. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. If anyone wants to judge me for that, well, go right ahead, because it's none of your business and I don't care if you approve. 

These threads always turn so judgmental, and it's just disgusting. I'm totally supportive of any woman who wants to breastfeed, but I'm also totally supportive of any woman who wants to bottle-feed. As others have already said, what's most important is that the baby is healthy and fed -- and both of those things can be very well achieved with a quality formula. It sickens me that women try to guilt other women into breastfeeding by threatening them that if they use formula, their babies won't be healthy. 

How about supporting a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body? Breastfeeding is a choice; it shouldn't be some sort of ridiculous moral requirement.

[denarii]

Just putting this out there.

[JustEm]

3 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

I totally agree with you, especially the bolded point, which is so true!!! Breastfeeding your baby doesn't make you some kind of superior mother; it just doesn't. 

I'm so sorry you had to breastfeed when you didn't want to; that must have been awful for you! 😞  I was able to bottle-feed my son, and I am very thankful for that. And I don't have of the any of the so-called "valid excuses" for bottle-feeding that people always mention; I just simply didn't want to breastfeed. I never had the slightest interest in "trying," because it wasn't something I ever wanted to do, so I didn't. My doctor was very supportive and my ds absolutely thrived on his Nutramigen formula. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. If anyone wants to judge me for that, well, go right ahead, because it's none of your business and I don't care if you approve. 

These threads always turn so judgmental, and it's just disgusting. I'm totally supportive of any woman who wants to breastfeed, but I'm also totally supportive of any woman who wants to bottle-feed. As others have already said, what's most important is that the baby is healthy and fed -- and both of those things can be very well achieved with a quality formula. It sickens me that women try to guilt other women into breastfeeding by threatening them that if they use formula, their babies won't be healthy. 

How about supporting a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body? Breastfeeding is a choice; it shouldn't be some sort of ridiculous moral requirement.

I don't know if I'd say I didn't want to breastfeed. I fully chose to because it was the cheap option and because the thought of getting out of bed to make bottles in the middle of the night sounded unappealing.  I certainly hated breastfeeding though and it was detrimental to my mental health because of the hormone imbalance while lactating. With a 7th, I'd likely choose to breastfeed again but if I chose formula I would at least be supported by the people in my life. Anyone who didn't support me wouldn't remain in my life. Life is too short for judgmental bs..

Sadly, I don't think the constant judgement many women endure from other women will ever go away.

[Ting Tang]

6 minutes ago, denarii said:

Just putting this out there.

I was just going to share this!  LOL       You know how much I care about what I fed my children as babies?     My youngest of 4 is 5.    I do not care.   I also don't care what anyone else feeds their babies, whether it be breast milk or formula.   And if you can't access formula right now and don't have breast milk, then you are just going to have to make the next best choice.  No judgment. You work with what you have available to you.  It is awful that some babies are getting sick due to this crisis.  😞 

[Catwoman]

9 minutes ago, hjffkj said:

I don't know if I'd say I didn't want to breastfeed. I fully chose to because it was the cheap option and because the thought of getting out of bed to make bottles in the middle of the night sounded unappealing.  I certainly hated breastfeeding though and it was detrimental to my mental health because of the hormone imbalance while lactating. With a 7th, I'd likely choose to breastfeed again but if I chose formula I would at least be supported by the people in my life. Anyone who didn't support me wouldn't remain in my life. Life is too short for judgmental bs..

Sadly, I don't think the constant judgement many women endure from other women will ever go away.

I thought breastfeeding seemed like a nuisance compared with getting out of bed to do the bottles! 🤣

I think it was the only time in my life when I was super-organized. I had that bottle thing down to a science! 😀

Edited May 19, 2022 by Catwoman

[Ting Tang]

7 minutes ago, hjffkj said:

I don't know if I'd say I didn't want to breastfeed. I fully chose to because it was the cheap option and because the thought of getting out of bed to make bottles in the middle of the night sounded unappealing.  I certainly hated breastfeeding though and it was detrimental to my mental health because of the hormone imbalance while lactating. With a 7th, I'd likely choose to breastfeed again but if I chose formula I would at least be supported by the people in my life. Anyone who didn't support me wouldn't remain in my life. Life is too short for judgmental bs..

Sadly, I don't think the constant judgement many women endure from other women will ever go away.

 

Just now, Catwoman said:

I thought breastfeeding seemed like a nuisance compared with getting out of bed to make the bottles! 🤣

I EPd, and I think lactating was a nuisance.  I did not mind the bottle part, lol.  Some women enjoy nursing, and that is great.  I just hated having to undress several times a day, LOL. 

[JustEm]

5 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

I thought breastfeeding seemed like a nuisance compared with getting out of bed to do the bottles! 🤣

I think it was the only time in my life when I was super-organized. I had that bottle thing down to a science! 😀

I had enough dishes to deal with, adding bottles wasn't going to happen, ha. And as someone perfectly comfortable with cosleeping, just popping my boob out and continuing to sleep as the baby ate was the way to go. I actually wonder if the lack of sleep from dealing with bottles at night would have been just as bad for my mental health as the hormones from breastfeeding. I'll never know. 

[theelfqueen]

I was making a schooling related decision for my then-teenaged Oldest child. A friend said "I would do whatever is best for Oldest"..  i asked her "what if what is best for Oldest is worst for everyone else involved? Does the impact on the rest of us not matter because it is best for him?" To be fair her children were quite young  and they had a different family dynamic... but even as a mom who nursed two of my kids til well past two.... best can mean a lot of things. Are there lots of ways and times when breastmilk is absolutely the best for both child and mother? Yes. Are there other factors in every decision? Yes. 

I think encouraging and supporting more nursing is something we as a society need to get behind. I think the new moms right this minute should be helped to make that choice if possible in lo ight of the current situation... but saying heartless nonsense to mothers of older babies who are worried about feeding their babies helps NOBODY. 

[Toocrazy!!]

I too was convinced breastfeeding was best. So much of what I read when pregnant pretty much demonized formula. I tried so hard, but DS always cried, didn’t sleep. Couldn’t gain weight. Drs weren’t too concerned at first, but my experiences mom girlfriends were. Hired a lactation consultant, pumped constantly to try to increase my supply, nothing worked. Finally at 7 weeks I gave in to supplementing. I was so upset, and mad at myself. And one of my friends said- he’ll be fine- one day you’ll even take him to McDonald’s and he’ll still be fine😀 That really did click with me for some reason. This was almost 20 years ago, I’m not sure how it works for new moms, but fed is best for sure. 

[theelfqueen]

[Catwoman]

13 minutes ago, hjffkj said:

I had enough dishes to deal with, adding bottles wasn't going to happen, ha. And as someone perfectly comfortable with cosleeping, just popping my boob out and continuing to sleep as the baby ate was the way to go. I actually wonder if the lack of sleep from dealing with bottles at night would have been just as bad for my mental health as the hormones from breastfeeding. I'll never know. 

My ds slept in a crib in his own room, so I would have had to get up anyway, so that's probably why I didn't think doing the bottles was a big deal. If we had co-slept, doing the bottles would have been a lot more trouble for sure!

[Kassia]

I breastfed all four of my kids and have often wondered if they would have been better off bottlefed.  All had eczema - two severe.  One developed asthma.  Was it something I was consuming or just genetics (both DH and I have a history of allergies)?  

 

 

[vonfirmath]

6 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

My ds slept in a crib in his own room, so I would have had to get up anyway, so that's probably why I didn't think doing the bottles was a big deal. If we had co-slept, doing the bottles would have been a lot more trouble for sure!

By pumping and feeding from that/formula, my husband could actually feed the baby some of the time and allow me to sleep.

Co-sleeping was not going to happen. DS slept in our room in a pack and play at the very beginning then was moved to his own room. But never in our bed.

We actually split the night to give both of us a chance to have a stretch of sleep. I took the early evening (through about 2am) and he took the part after that.)

 

Edited May 19, 2022 by vonfirmath

[Catwoman]

Just now, vonfirmath said:

By pumping and feeding from that/formula, my husband could actually feed the baby some of the time and allow me to sleep.

We actually split the night to give both of us a chance to have a stretch of sleep. I took the early evening (through about 2am) and he took the part after that.)

 

My dh was very helpful to me, too -- I was so fortunate that he didn't mind getting up during the night to get a bottle ready! I feel badly for moms who don't have any help at all with nighttime feedings. 

[teachermom2834]

I remember all the lactation consultants and the literature 25 years ago insisting that your baby just didn’t need anything except colostrum until the milk came in. It was natures way and to trust it. Your baby doesn’t need it. And my babies screamed and were jaundiced and sucked so hard and desperately I bled and the consultants assured me it was perfect and as nature intended. Then the doc, who was a big proponent of breastfeeding, tells me baby is hungry and needs to eat. So I supplemented with formula until my milk came in and I had a healthy happy baby. And I was still able to breastfeed. But gosh it was so much drama and pain and difficulty just because formula had been so demonized at that point that the idea of giving the kid a drop of formula was going to be a tragedy so the lactation consultants were just going to let the agony go on. I went on to breastfeed three babies- all needed to be supplemented early on for failure to thrive. 
 

Then I had a baby when my oldest was ten and my days were spent at the ballpark and in gyms and I knew that I wasn’t going to be happy publicly breastfeeding at all the activities I was always at for my three boys. And I was just over it. And I knew formula was what made my babies healthy and I bottle fed her exclusively from the get go. 

She was just as healthy if not healthier than the others. The funniest part is that the literature used to also point to better brain development /intelligence for breastfed babies. I used to joke that I was sorry she wouldn’t be smart but I just couldn’t breastfeed another baby. By any objective academic measure she would be the sharpest of the bunch 😂

It has been awhile so maybe the literature is not as extreme as it was 25 years ago but seriously it read like your child would be sick and fat and dumb if you bottle fed. 
 

And seriously…the number of people in my life that went from breast to Cheetos was astounding. So whatever. 
 

Feed your babies the best you can. I feel awful for people looking for formula now and I don’t fault them for doing the best they can. 

[vonfirmath]

3 minutes ago, teachermom2834 said:

She was just as healthy if not healthier than the others. The funniest part is that the literature used to also point to better brain development /intelligence for breastfed babies. I used to joke that I was sorry she wouldn’t be smart but I just couldn’t breastfeed another baby. By any objective academic measure she would be the sharpest of the bunch 😂

 

I remember hearing that to and I just laughed. I was exclusively breastfed. My husband was exclusively formula fed. And he is definitely smarter than I am. (This also though meant I was not getting pressure from my MIL to breastfeed. She was happy at whatever we chose)

 

ETA: I honestly didn't get pressure either way from people in person. Come to think of it. Everything making me think formula was evil and to avoid it, etc. Was from online. Where they did not have to deal with a crying baby in the middle of the night, etc. In person, people were much more supportive, period.

 

Edited May 19, 2022 by vonfirmath

[Tanaqui]

Quote

I strongly encourage you to try reform your country to be more accepting of the whole purpose of humans having breasts

Okay, Melissa, I'm just gonna put that on my agenda somewhere between "fixing climate change" and "repairing my first floor bathroom". It might take a few days to get around to, though.

[fairfarmhand]

I think often in these conversations, people project their experiences onto others. For some mothers, breastfeeding is a powerful emotional experience. They love nourishing their little ones and enjoying the time with just them and baby. These moms might struggle to understand "Why on earth would someone turn down that time with their baby? Don't they want that amazing bond and special moments? Something must be wrong with her."

They may not be able to understand that a mother might feel the same way when bottle feeding. Some moms want their partners to experience those moments too. Some moms might NEED their partners to divide child care more evenly, for mental and emotional reasons, as well as practical reasons. 

I nursed my babies because cheap/free/broke. I didn;t necessarily have profound connecting moments with my breastfed babies that I didn't have with my bottle fed ones. 2 of 4 were exclusively breastfed. All my babies nursed exclusively for at least 3 months. When with #1 I started supplementing because I had inadequate supply and #2 because allergies, it was a completely matter of fact thing (other than the fact that #2 would NEVER take bottles when breastfeeding and she had to go on Nutramigen which she HATED at first so the transition was ROUGHT!). I never mourned the end of nursing. In fact, I was glad when I stopped each time. I found nursing so messy (leaky, constantly with a heavy let down that sprayed my babies and they would choke and I'd end up all wet and sticky constantly, so much that I never mastered nursing in public) and really was relieved for those days to end. 

Some women don't experience things like this. I hope that they can understand that every one of us experience life differently. 

Yes, breastfeeding is best for humans as a whole, no it's not ideal for every individual.

[fairfarmhand]

46 minutes ago, vonfirmath said:

 

I remember hearing that to and I just laughed. I was exclusively breastfed. My husband was exclusively formula fed. And he is definitely smarter than I am. (This also though meant I was not getting pressure from my MIL to breastfeed. She was happy at whatever we chose)

 

 

 

Same. 

And my dh was fed the evil Carnation/evaporated milk + Karo syrup combo. 

[SKL]

Well today I heard from the WSJ that at least some people think the shortage will last months.

I foresee some changes in how parents feed their babies.  I do think some people currently having babies will make the decision to breastfeed / breastfeed longer than they originally planned.  (Which I think is good from a macro perspective at least.)  I think most people will change their views on how long babies "need" specially-formulated baby drinks.  Formula companies will probably experience significantly decreased demand in the long run.  Prices may go up as a result, who knows?

The US government has long been a major purchaser of baby formula, and I don't understand how this shortage was not foreseen.  It's surreal to me.

[catz]

Corn syrup is in most formulas.  I was raised on a corn syrup based formula because BF was not hip in the 70's.  I now have a huge sensitivity to corn syrup.  Sometimes parents are making least worst choices for their kids.  But my kids have a lot less metabolism and food issues than me, and I'm glad they didn't start out on their lives that way even though obviously plenty of babies do fine on them.  I have family history prone to auto immune and digestive issues.  I wasn't trying to paint corn syrup as the devil when I brought that up early in this thread, I just have personal issues with it.  

I hope the chatter about getting formula rolling again is accurate and supply is up soon.  

[SKL]

9 minutes ago, catz said:

Corn syrup is in most formulas.  I was raised on a corn syrup based formula because BF was not hip in the 70's.  I now have a huge sensitivity to corn syrup.  Sometimes parents are making least worst choices for their kids.  But my kids have a lot less metabolism and food issues than me, and I'm glad they didn't start out on their lives that way even though obviously plenty of babies do fine on them.  I have family history prone to auto immune and digestive issues.  I wasn't trying to paint corn syrup as the devil when I brought that up early in this thread, I just have personal issues with it.  

I hope the chatter about getting formula rolling again is accurate and supply is up soon.  

Yeah, it struck me as strange to see people acting like the popular baby formulas are so much better than the make-it-yourself suggestions.  I mean I'm sure there are luxury brands that are terrific, but most of them are just cow's milk, vegetable oil, sugar/corn syrup, and some vitamins which may or may not be what an individual baby needs.

I'd rather the government just be straight with people and give honest info on what is safe and nutritionally sufficient in a non-ideal situation.  The idea that we're going to kill our babies by feeding them the way we or our moms were fed is just going to destroy credibility ... again.

Edited May 19, 2022 by SKL

[denarii]

15 minutes ago, SKL said:

Well today I heard from the WSJ that at least some people think the shortage will last months.

I foresee some changes in how parents feed their babies.  I do think some people currently having babies will make the decision to breastfeed / breastfeed longer than they originally planned.  (Which I think is good from a macro perspective at least.)  I think most people will change their views on how long babies "need" specially-formulated baby drinks.  Formula companies will probably experience significantly decreased demand in the long run.  Prices may go up as a result, who knows?

The US government has long been a major purchaser of baby formula, and I don't understand how this shortage was not foreseen.  It's surreal to me.

There was a massive recall and the factory in question, which produced up to 20% of the countries formula, is still not up and running. 

There are bigger systemic issues at play but this recall and subsequent closure broke the camel's back so to speak. 

There is a good article by npr here

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/19/1099748064/baby-infant-formula-shortages

 

 

 

[Lillyfee]

I never heard anybody promote formular. My mom said in her time it was the thing to feed formular but when I had babies all doctors, moms, nurses recommended breastfeeding as the number one choice.

Did that change again?

However, there are just women that can't breastfeed for whatever reason.

I just really thought breastfeeding was the cheapest, easiest and most convenient thing but not everybody can do that.

 

Edited May 19, 2022 by Lillyfee

[Catwoman]

12 minutes ago, Lillyfee said:

I just really thought breastfeeding was the cheapest, easiest and most convenient thing but not everybody can do that.

More importantly, not everyone WANTS to breastfeed. 

[Corraleno]

52 minutes ago, SKL said:

Well today I heard from the WSJ that at least some people think the shortage will last months.

I foresee some changes in how parents feed their babies.  I do think some people currently having babies will make the decision to breastfeed / breastfeed longer than they originally planned.  (Which I think is good from a macro perspective at least.)  I think most people will change their views on how long babies "need" specially-formulated baby drinks.  Formula companies will probably experience significantly decreased demand in the long run.  Prices may go up as a result, who knows?

The US government has long been a major purchaser of baby formula, and I don't understand how this shortage was not foreseen.  It's surreal to me.

The FDA has approved the Abbott plant to reopen, with some outside supervision, and they should be online within 2 weeks, although it's expected to be another 4-6 weeks after reopening before formula will be back in stock on grocery shelves. 

In the meantime, Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act which requires all companies that supply ingredients used in baby formula to provide them to formula manufacturers before all other clients, and he approved the immediate importation of formula from other countries as long as they meet the FDA criteria, even if they have not been formally FDA approved, until US manufacturers are fully operational and able to meet current demand.

[Corraleno]

The House passed the Access to Baby Formula Act yesterday, which relaxes restrictions on the brands of formula that people can buy with WIC. The impact of the Abbott closure specifically on families that rely on WIC is astounding:

"About half of infant formula sold nationwide is purchased with WIC benefits, which restricts the types of formulas that recipients can buy. Moreover, Abbott Nutrition’s formula products serve 89 percent of all infants participating in WIC, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service."

https://edlabor.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Fact Sheet - Access to Baby Formula Act.pdf

[Matryoshka]

4 hours ago, Catwoman said:

I thought breastfeeding seemed like a nuisance compared with getting out of bed to do the bottles! 🤣

I think it was the only time in my life when I was super-organized. I had that bottle thing down to a science! 😀

I was NOT going to cosleep. I fully planned on giving bottles at night, so that dh could help (had twins).  Then, when I finally got established with bf'ing after 3 months (preemies, seizures, 2 hospital stays), I discovered that I could bf while lying in bed. Cosleeping and nursing at night it was after that! Pretty much nursed all night long; I'd change sides to give them each a turn. Rotisserie mom!

But, yeah, whatever works is different for every family based on a wide variety of factors.  Babies fed, and as much sleep as possible = good.  I had to supplement w/ formula while we figured things out, or they would've starved.  And if I had had to work at all, it would have had to be formula for the duration.

[Catwoman]

5 minutes ago, Matryoshka said:

I was NOT going to cosleep. I fully planned on giving bottles at night, so that dh could help (had twins).  Then, when I finally got established with bf'ing after 3 months (preemies, seizures, 2 hospital stays), I discovered that I could bf while lying in bed. Cosleeping and nursing at night it was after that! Pretty much nursed all night long; I'd change sides to give them each a turn. Rotisserie mom!

But, yeah, whatever works is different for every family based on a wide variety of factors.  Babies fed, and as much sleep as possible = good.  I had to supplement w/ formula while we figured things out, or they would've starved.  And if I had had to work at all, it would have had to be formula for the duration.

Rotisserie Mom!!!! 😂😂😂