Dealing with the formula shortage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked by the amount of people who don't understand that once you stop breastfeeding (or choose not to do it to begin with) that you can't just suddenly change your mind a few weeks or months later and start producing milk again.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:IS formula more convenient?? I breastfed 3 babies. It was so easy to just nurse any time I needed. No bringing bottles, no formula, no cleaning bottles. My diaper bag consisted of 2 diapers and a thing of wipes. It was particularly easy in the middle of the night with newborns. I never left my bed, just picked up baby, nursed and put them down. I really feel like I got more sleep that way than going to the kitchen to make formula, turning on lights, etc.

Pumping is harder than formula, yeah, but not totally. I pump 3x during my work day. I don't stop working and just pump at the computer. (I realize that not everyone has a job they can pump at)

I have the perfect job for pumping and I found pumping to be hugely disruptive and exhausting. Not everyone finds breastfeeding as convenient as you did. I'm not saying you didn't find it easy, I'm saying I didn't. For many, many women, it is not easy, but people like you insist only your experience is valid.

Sorry, I think no one hears from the experience of women who enjoyed it and find it easy. I don't talk about it in public. In mom's groups, people only talk about struggles. Why isn't my experience valid too?

I SPECIFICALLY SAID IT WAS VALID. YOU were the one who said "IS formula more convienient?" As though your experience is the only truth.

I've been around long enough to recognize that in every area of life but especially online people tend to complain about their struggles more than they celebrate their difficulties. But when it comes to breastfeeding advocates, NEVER in my breastfeeding classes, with the lactation consultants or doulas did I ever hear anyone validate the fact that breastfeeding is hard for so many women. All you hear about is how great it is, how breastfed babies sh&t doesn't stink (that's quite the gem lol), never recognizing the sheer amount of time and literal energy it takes.

They also love to talk about how it is free. Like there is zero value to a woman’s time and autonomy.

And it's not even free in dollar terms. I spent hundreds on pump parts/accessories, boppy pillows, nursing pads, nursing bras, pumping bras, mother's milk tea, etc etc.

NP. I pump while at work and EBF when I'm home and on weekends. Insurance covered all pump parts, didn't use a boppy, pumping bra or teas. I did buy a nursing bra, but it's the same I used while pregnant. I also had to buy nursing pads, but I bought washable ones.

I never say it's free or that my time has zero value. I would be feeding my baby regardless, so my time is already spent. And if dh were feeding the baby, I'd be with the other kid anyways.

[Anonymous]

A coworker recently returned and mentioned using formula to both give dad an "opportunity" to feed and to get a break. And I felt a little sad for her.

Could you explain this part of your post a little bit better?

I think you’re trying to say you wish she had more support in general where it was not just an opportunity but part of what they do at home? Meaning having dad feed baby as much as mum? So that infant care was shared? It’s not entirely clear.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had eight kids and breastfed them all exclusively except #6. For some unknown reason my supply tanked on that one, almost immediately. I had to supplement more than half the feedings with formula despite pumping every chance I got, and ultimately had to move to just formula for my own sanity.

Sometimes sh!t just happens

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked by the amount of people who don't understand that once you stop breastfeeding (or choose not to do it to begin with) that you can't just suddenly change your mind a few weeks or months later and start producing milk again.

This.

Though I've been wondering if I could relactate and donate my milk! I loved burning all those extra calories.

[Anonymous]

New mom here. I swear the pressure to breastfeed was more difficult than actually breastfeeding. WHC is “baby friendly” meaning there is a poster everywhere you look encouraging breastfeeding. It’s shoved down our throats from every outlet these days. you didn’t have Instagram targeting you with breastfeeding accounts when you had babies.

My baby was in the Nicu and I couldn’t breastfeed but still managed to get my supply going, all on my own research. I spent one hour total with LCs during my 12 days in the hospital.

Now that I’m home the only way I’m able to breastfeed is having a nanny ($60k/year) and pumping (1 hour a day, which if I was paid for my time like I am at work would be $450/day).

The treatment of mothers in America has to change if y’all are gonna force us into breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Setting aside how utterly cruel and tone death it is to shame formula feeding families right now as OP has done, I don't get the premise of her post. I gave birth 3 years ago and all I got was breastfeeding education. Very little information on formula feeding was provided which might be why babies are in the hospital right now because they drank diluted formula.

+1
My last kid was born 9 years ago, and there was TONS of information about breastfeeding, and definitely the message was Breast is Best and all that. One issue is that we don't, as a society, actually support nursing in the sense of ensuring adequate maternity leave or ready access to support, and people complain if you nurse in public, but that's unlikely to change anytime soon. Any woman who has given birth in the past year was told about nursing. And there are a million reasons why someone wouldn't nurse, or wouldn't rely solely on breastmilk, besides "convenience."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked by the amount of people who don't understand that once you stop breastfeeding (or choose not to do it to begin with) that you can't just suddenly change your mind a few weeks or months later and start producing milk again.

Exactly this.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand this “lack of information/education” thing. I had a baby 3 years ago and the information about and push to breastfeed was INTENSE and started fairly early in pregnancy. There was also a ton of support at the hospital itself, as well as resources at the pediatrician. That was not a problem at all.

[Anonymous]

I breastfed both kids to age one and it was easy. Then again, I had access to a lactation consultant (with the first), private insurance to pay for a pump (only with the second though), a six month maternity leave for each kid, a healthy supply, kids who liked nursing, no medical conditions requiring medication unsafe for breastfeeding, a private office in which to pump, and access to a refrigerator at work to store my milk and pump parts. Classifying breastfeeding as “easy” exposes a helluva lot of privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IS formula more convenient?? I breastfed 3 babies. It was so easy to just nurse any time I needed. No bringing bottles, no formula, no cleaning bottles. My diaper bag consisted of 2 diapers and a thing of wipes. It was particularly easy in the middle of the night with newborns. I never left my bed, just picked up baby, nursed and put them down. I really feel like I got more sleep that way than going to the kitchen to make formula, turning on lights, etc.

Pumping is harder than formula, yeah, but not totally. I pump 3x during my work day. I don't stop working and just pump at the computer. (I realize that not everyone has a job they can pump at)

And not everyone has the same nursing experience as you either. Not everyone is comfortable co sleeping. Imagine!

[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 saw a new great grampa give a two month old baby his bottle. No question they both enjoyed it very much! MY DH gave my daughter her first bottle of the morning everyday. It was a lovely time for them. He was sad when bottles ended.

[Anonymous]

Breastfeeding mom here. Not sure why anyone thinks this is a good time to stir the breastfeeding/formula feeding pot with posts like “why don’t you just breastfeed?/here’s why it worked for me.” This is a time to be checking in on your friends who use formula -and by the way, many women have to do this to supplement breastfeeding- and offering to place formula orders for them. Ffs.

[Anonymous]

If you would prefer your baby be fed by a wet nurse than just use formula you are a sick freak who doesn't understand science.