Dealing with the formula shortage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised nobody has posted in 5 days. Are supplies improving?

Some started making their own

[Anonymous]

OP the only part of your long post with which I agree is the need for time and space. That’s called publicly funded maternity leave of at least one year. So please start devoting your energy to making that a reality. Start donating your time and money to people who campaign for this and write every one of your elected officials demanding it.

Once you have done all of the above let us know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I’d love though is if the idea of wet nurses come back. I remember when I was just desperately trying to teach my NICU baby to latch, but my supply was low, and he wouldn’t stay on the breast, but I didn’t want to get him too used to bottles, I kept thinking how amazing it would be to have a wet nurse lol but I worried I would sound absolutely insane if I looked for that. In the end my baby never really breastfed and I pumped and used formula.

Wet nurse - gross. And during covid? You’re nuts.

[Anonymous]

I was just at Costco. They had a huge pallet of Similac formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just at Costco. They had a huge pallet of Similac formula.

My local Giant had 2 lonely bottles of Alimentum ready made (sp?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I’d love though is if the idea of wet nurses come back. I remember when I was just desperately trying to teach my NICU baby to latch, but my supply was low, and he wouldn’t stay on the breast, but I didn’t want to get him too used to bottles, I kept thinking how amazing it would be to have a wet nurse lol but I worried I would sound absolutely insane if I looked for that. In the end my baby never really breastfed and I pumped and used formula.

Wet nurse - gross. And during covid? You’re nuts.

Beyond these issues, sometimes that doesn't work. We adopted. For the first few weeks, birthmom pumped as she said that was the best way for her and she gave us the milk. The milk was making our child really sick and we had to go to the ER it was getting so bad. I don't if it was the reflux/medical issues or not proper storage. However, she was a supporter of formula and said to just do formula. Even then, it took us many formulas and medication to fix it.

If you want to use a wet-nurse, go for it but it may not work for all families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard a statistic on NBC News with Lester Holt that gave me pause. He said, “Over 60% of the formula purchased in this country did so using WIC vouchers”. Basically, low income and nationally deficient children under 5. Who exactly is supposed to promote breastfeeding?

Were you aware that WIC also promotes and supports breastfeeding by providing additional calories in extra food for breastfeeding mothers, above what is available through SNAP? That they offer lactation specialist and peer counselor support? That some WIC programs actually supply pumps and other supplies to breastfeeding women?

I got a hospital-grade pump from WIC when I was in grad school. It was 2k. I returned it after I stopped breastfeeding. They also sent a breastfeeding consultant to my house. Bring didn't work even though I had a lot of help. Women should do what they want. You have no idea how much stress we're under. Formula was better for me. My baby was premature, and he was bottle-fed in the NICU.

[Anonymous]

At this point, if I had trouble, I'd switch to formula from other countries. Like UK or German formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not every mother can breastfeed (supply, pain, everlasting latch issues, prescriptions that contraindicate, etc.). Not every mother enjoys breastfeeding.

I think maximizing options and supporting mothers in the choices that are best for them and their family are best. Not assuming one choice is best for all.

No, not every mother, but the VAST majority. The lack of support and information are the biggest barrier. Do you "enjoy" giving your child a bottle? I don't understand that reason.

I spent my entire pregnancy puking up my guts and having my babies suck the very marrow from my bones for sustenance. I almost died once, and spent not a single moment of pregnancy feeling at peace. When they came into this world, and the nausea lifted off of my body for the first time in months, the very idea of continuing to let a baby take their nutrition from me filled me with dread.

I did not even attempt to breastfeed a single one. I put on a tight bra, took my pain medication and worked hard to ensure my milk was gone within a week. And I ate a lot of food, because I'd been starving for 9 months each time.

I very much enjoyed feeding my babies bottles. My first was only 4 pounds when she was born, and I very much enjoyed counting every ounce that went into her. I enjoyed bonding with her while she grew in a way she could not inside me. I very much enjoyed watching my husband feed them. I very much enjoyed washing the bottles every night, knowing my body was my own again. I was very much repulsed by breastfeeding (not other women doing it, but the idea of me doing it) and I am more than 100% sure that I would have had a lot of emotional issues if I'd tried, for many reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not every mother can breastfeed (supply, pain, everlasting latch issues, prescriptions that contraindicate, etc.). Not every mother enjoys breastfeeding.

I think maximizing options and supporting mothers in the choices that are best for them and their family are best. Not assuming one choice is best for all.

No, not every mother, but the VAST majority. The lack of support and information are the biggest barrier. Do you "enjoy" giving your child a bottle? I don't understand that reason.

I spent my entire pregnancy puking up my guts and having my babies suck the very marrow from my bones for sustenance. I almost died once, and spent not a single moment of pregnancy feeling at peace. When they came into this world, and the nausea lifted off of my body for the first time in months, the very idea of continuing to let a baby take their nutrition from me filled me with dread.

I did not even attempt to breastfeed a single one. I put on a tight bra, took my pain medication and worked hard to ensure my milk was gone within a week. And I ate a lot of food, because I'd been starving for 9 months each time.

I very much enjoyed feeding my babies bottles. My first was only 4 pounds when she was born, and I very much enjoyed counting every ounce that went into her. I enjoyed bonding with her while she grew in a way she could not inside me. I very much enjoyed watching my husband feed them. I very much enjoyed washing the bottles every night, knowing my body was my own again. I was very much repulsed by breastfeeding (not other women doing it, but the idea of me doing it) and I am more than 100% sure that I would have had a lot of emotional issues if I'd tried, for many reasons.

I enjoyed bottle feeding my baby as well. I think it's hilarious when breastfeeding psychos act like the only way to "bond" with your baby during feeding is by breastfeeding. Sorry, no, try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard a statistic on NBC News with Lester Holt that gave me pause. He said, “Over 60% of the formula purchased in this country did so using WIC vouchers”. Basically, low income and nationally deficient children under 5. Who exactly is supposed to promote breastfeeding?

Why does this surprise you? In a country with already abysmal maternity leave, lower income mothers are more likely to have lesser options than those with better jobs, less likely to afford unpaid leave, more likely to have jobs that don’t have safe spaces to pump. Our country’s appalling maternity leave should be what gives you pause.