I was watching the news the other day, and watched this story about a five-month-old who was nearly killed by watered-down baby formula.
The mother told the story of how, in order to save money, she waters down her baby’s formula – never thinking that the extra water could hurt her baby!
This is quite possibly the saddest thing I have ever heard! This mother is struggling to buy expensive baby formula for her baby – thinking it is what is best for him…when she could have been feeding the child plentifully – and without watering down – if she had simply chosen to breastfeed him.
I don’t know why this mother chose formula. I have a feeling it has something to do with “not being able to breastfeed,” a common misconception among young mothers who are not informed of proper latching on procedures – and unable to afford expensive hospital lactation consultants.
At 19, I was a new mom who had no examples for breastfeeding and was also unable to afford an $80 per hour lactation consultant. I struggled for two weeks with my screaming newborn, rock hard watermelon boobs, raging hormones and the residual pain of a first natural childbirth not kindly done.
It was by sheer determination – and my baby’s willingness to eat out of whatever nipple was put in his mouth – that we were able to succeed at a full-year of nursing.
How frightening for this young mom to feel that she was helping her baby – and her pocketbook – and ended up nearly killing him.
I feel so helpless sometimes that we are determined to make formula and bottles the “norm” in American society. Encourage breastfeeding! You might save a baby’s life…
Baby Nursing Mom says:
That is sad. Yes, the government and society need to do more to promote breastfeeding. I must say, however, that it does seems like things are better now the they were when I had my daughter 7 years ago. I just gave birth to my third child and I was visited twice by a lactation consultant in the 24 hours i spent at the hospital. Also, WIC promotes breastfeeding and gives more to breastfeeding moms then if you chose formula. I blogges about eh role of breastfeeding and poverty, please check it out! http://www.babynursingblog.com/?s=poverty&x=0&y=0
4th December 2008 at 11:46 am
Katie says:
Unfortunately mothers that use formula now have something else to worry about….melanine in formula. This is the organic compound is used in plastics, fertilizers, and cleaning supplies. It has been responsible for deaths of pets last year and sickening tens of thousands of infants in China. Now melanine has been found in formula from the top 3 producers in the US. It is used in pet food/formula because it falsely adds to the protein content.
As late as October, the FDA said there was no know safe level of melanine in formula. Now that it has been found in the US, they have conveniently set levels just above the amount found in the formula. Apparently we cannot trust the government to protect even our most innocent
So please breastfeed if you can! It really is best. If not you can search the interent for organic formula or melanine free formula.
4th December 2008 at 4:54 pm
sarah says:
I’m a bit offended that you automatically assume that young moms don’t have the money to learn to breastfeed. I spent somewhere near $600 on lactation consultants and products to help me produce milk and I simply could not produce enough milk. Im 20, married, and we have a 6 month old and I am very happily formula feeding her, and no, formula does not break my bank either. There’s always going to be something wrong with any way of feeding baby. Just like how breastfed babies are lacking in viamin D and in Iron. They also experience more broken bones, more anemias,and more bacterial and viral infections than formula fed babies later in life. I could easily claim that you are hurting your baby by brestfeeding because brest milk lacks SO many nutrients that a baby really needs. I’m glad I’m not risking my babies health for a few saved dollars or a couple of extra IQ points in highschool. Brestfeeding is already WAY over rated. You guys have probaly never done an ounce of research on the harmful side effects of breastfeeding in todays society. The reason breastfeeding isn’t as healthy anymore is the quality of our diets. Noone eats well enough to produce nutritious milk anymore. You should get your facts straight before you judge people.
4th December 2008 at 8:06 pm
Mish says:
Sarah! You poor thing! I’m so sorry you’ve had such a problem nursing your wee one. I’m glad that formula feeding doesn’t break your bank, but for many, that is simply not true. As for your lack of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding, I’m not sure what to say. You seem to be only looking for the research that supports your decision. And that’s fine…except even your research about breastfeeding is lacking. Yes, some mothers who breastfeed lack adequate vitamin D and Iron – taking a prenatal vitamin while nursing often fixes this. And to say that no one eats well enough to produce nutritious milk is an outright lie. I have nursed six children – all exclusively until they were 6-8 months – and not one has ever lacked a nutrient! They are all healthy and have been relatively disease – free for their lives.
The fact that you believe you are “saving” your baby by formula-feeding leads me to believe that you have been grossly misled. I’m so sorry! Please, read more. Here is a link to the FDA (I figured if the government said it you might believe it): http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html about breastfeeding’s benefits.
Please, don’t give up on breastfeeding. It really is the safest, most nutritious and most cost-effective solution for you and your children.
4th December 2008 at 7:05 am
Jena says:
I believe that it is every womens individual choice to breast feed or not. I myself have 3 children who I choose not to breastfeed. My reasoning, if I had to be up for the feedings in the middle of the night my husband could be to. He helped make them. hahah. I don’t have a strong opinion either way but I do have an opinion on people who are so vocal about breastfeeding. Why do you feel that you are right and everyone else is wrong, doesn’t every person have the right to choose what they feel is right for them. There are advantages and disadvantages in both ways, so any intellegent person should read what they can and decide for themselves. I also do not like when a breastfeading mother feels that it is ok to remove her shirt and start breastfeeding in public, I am not saying don’t breastfeed in public just be of stable mind, do you really need to remove your top completely and sit in a family restaurant exposed? My sister-in-laws all breastfeed and did it with dignity and respect to all.
4th December 2008 at 7:47 pm
Mish says:
Jena – I’ll tell you why I am so vocal about it – because it shouldn’t be the mother’s choice. A baby is entitled to the best nutrition possible. Just as a baby is entitled to not have a mother who smokes or drinks during pregnancy, a baby is entitled to the most nutritious milk a mother can provide. And who said parenting was supposed to be convenient? Of course it sometimes blows that my husband doesn’t have to wake up at 2 am – or 4 am or 5 am or whenever. But when one chooses to have a baby, you forego those little conveniences in favor of THE BABY!!!
4th December 2008 at 10:20 am
Amanda says:
Wow! Um yeah babies count more than how much sleep mom gets! I mean do we really have babies and think, this will be fun and easy as long as my husband who probably gets up to go to work all day will get up half the time??? Yes its nice if he can help out at night, esp if mom works too. But if mom stays home, lets give them a break and say yeah to the breadwinner! Breastmilk is better for babies, and I dont think anyone needs to research to figure that out. Even an evolutionist will agree, there is a reason the milk is there! Its not for a wet shirt contest, thats for sure. Babies are the important factor in this thread and their nutrition is more necessary than my sleep. I wont die from lack. Futhermore, what about attachment parenting? This is better for them too. Babies bond better when nursed. I struggled to nurse mine as long as I could, I dont have milk for long for some reason but I made it to the 6 mo mark before drying up and it made a big difference. Oh, and my son read at age 3 so yeah I think he had enough vitamens!
4th December 2008 at 10:44 pm
Jena says:
You are right it is a Mother’s choice! To have a baby and to raise that child. That said it is also a Mothers choice to choose breast over bottle. I have had 3 children all bottle feed and all excelled in school to the point of graduating 1 year early, on time, and 2 years early. As for attachment parenting, I couldn’t be closer with my kids if they still lived at home. For a daughter to put on her facebook that i am her hero just shows that even though she didn’t breast feed she has an attachment that will never break. My boys all on there own also call me every single day. So I don’t believe that nursing provides a better bond, the bond is made every single day that you are raising your children. I am not pro – or con it is every womens choice, I just get tired of breastfeeding people inferring that non breastfeeders are bad mothers. WE are all mothers in the end raising the future generations and there are worse things in this world that mothers need to unite on.
4th December 2008 at 7:27 pm
FORMULA FED says:
I have three children and one on the way. I could NOT breast feed as I have milk ducts missing and scar tissue blocking my right breast. I DID indeed breast feed with just one side and my children were losing weight. I had no choice but to switch to formula. I have 3 very intelligent and healthy children. I really get disgusted with people saying breastfeeding is the ONLY way. You have no idea what someone’s situation is. Who are you to judge?
4th December 2008 at 10:22 am
FORMULA FED says:
Oh I do want to add that I have an extreme closeness with all my children and while I bottle fed, I held them close to me. I never propped a bottle up and guess what? My husband – their father – got to join in on that close contact with our children. Try that with breast feeding.
4th December 2008 at 10:23 am