Reply to Dealing with the formula shortage

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I know many, many women have valid reasons for using formula. I tend to think some do, understandably, to simplify their lives and relieve the burden of being tethered to baby for 12 months nursing - either because of stress, going back to work, or some other non-medical reason (for mom or baby).

I can't help but wonder how many families use formula out of convenience, and how we might all be better served if we gave women the space, time and support to breastfeed. I recognize that there are different interests at play.

This is not meant to suggest any judgment or incite any breastmilk/formula wars.

I'm watching the news unfold today about Biden invoking the defense production act to produce formula. Heaven knows there are so many broken parts in our systems, but I've been mulling this over for weeks now. Why aren't we putting any effort into breastfeeding education??

I'm about 10 years out now from having had an infant. 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.

For those of you closer to this stage, I'm curious about your take on this. I sense a level of panic around this formula shortage and I wonder how many parents actually medically need it, and how many are on it out of convenience and why we don't do anything to help support those families?[/quote]

This is getting tiresome. Do you know how many things we would have to change in the US to support breastfeeding? Here is a list to get you started:

1) Maternity leave - women in the US have 0 paid days of maternity leave. We've been trying to pass maternity leave for years. Has Congress passed anything? No. This is on top of the fact that all legislation proposed for maternity leave is for three months. To promote breastfeeding you would want a system where women get at least 6 months of maternity leave. I will also add that paid parental leave is important too. To continue breastfeeding, women need adequate support at home. It helps when your spouse can take off from work to help you with the baby.
2) Access to healthcare - We don't have universal healthcare in the US and it doesn't look like we will ever get universal healthcare. Someone needs to pay for lactation consultants, pumping etc. 
3) Childcare - parents need support in the house with other kids so that the mom can focus on breastfeeding.
4) Support for pumping - do you think the cash register in Walmart can take pumping breaks?

I will tell you that I am upper middle class. My mom breastfed me and all my siblings so I grew up thinking that breastfeeding is natural and the way babies should be fed. I was adamant on breastfeeding and did everything I could to breastfeed. I had the support I needed. Had a supportive husband, family, supportive workplace, and all the money necessary to see dozens of lactation consultants if I wanted to. Well guess what? I tried and I tried and I tried. I could not produce more than .75 oz a feed whether it was through breastfeeding (they would weigh my baby before and after) or through pumping. I killed myself trying. I pumped for three and a half months thinking that even an ounce a day is enough. I "breastfed," then bottle fed, and then pumped 8 times a day. That's all I did. My mental health deteriorated. With my second I saw a lactation consultant before birth and then saw her 4 times after. Guess what? No matter how many interventions we did (pumping, taking supplements etc) the amount I could produce wouldn't go up. So after 4 weeks of trying the lactation consultant told me that I should stop and that she's never seen anyone work this hard to try to make milk. She told me if she was seeing an upward trajectory will my milk production she would tell me to continue but she wasn't . With my third I tried for 3 weeks and then gave up.  Not everyone can breastfeed. Breastfeeding will not resolve the formula crisis. Yes sure we should focus on providing women with more support but it ain't happening anytime soon. [/quote]

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