What If There Was No Formula?

[KiwiMOM]

I think if I had had formula in my house when DD was >2weeks old she would have been formula fed now. I refused to have it in the house because I was going to breastfeed (as in I was committed and resolved to doing so). I don't want to say I was "lucky" enough to succeed. It was bloody hard work and there were lots of tears on my and LO's fault. But because there was no other choice at 3am I just had to keep going.. I truly believe lots of people would wind up in the same spot with no formula. But honestly with how low I felt at that time I can't blame anyone for switching, as I know it could have just as easily been me.

**Blame doesn't sound right. I mean I can empathise completely. It's late. I'm going to bed!

 

[bubbles123]

My Grandma told me the other day that back in the late 1940's she used to donate milk to a lady up the road who 'had no milk' (her words). She used to hand express it into a bucket in the evening and my Grandad used to carry it up to the lady in the evenings. They had no fridge so I guess it just sat around all day but even so I thought that was so cool! I guess without formula that sort of thing would have been common. My Grandma is a cool lady! She also told me she was inundated with milk with my Mum (hence the bucket!) but struggled to make enough for my uncle (she didn't donate with him) and he had to be mixed fed with evaporated milk so it just goes to show breastfeeding is not an exact science.

 

[LisaL79]

I had latch problems and supply issues.
If there was no formula... I dunno.... I imagine we would've given her some animal milk. Goat probably.

 

[Tasha]

My Grandma told me the other day that back in the late 1940's she used to donate milk to a lady up the road who 'had no milk' (her words). She used to hand express it into a bucket in the evening and my Grandad used to carry it up to the lady in the evenings. They had no fridge so I guess it just sat around all day but even so I thought that was so cool! I guess without formula that sort of thing would have been common. My Grandma is a cool lady! She also told me she was inundated with milk with my Mum (hence the bucket!) but struggled to make enough for my uncle (she didn't donate with him) and he had to be mixed fed with evaporated milk so it just goes to show breastfeeding is not an exact science.

This is really interesting and cool.

 

[socitycourty]

my grandma did not produce milk with either of her births. her ob didn't really try to figure it out. she also had several miscarriages so it could have been "female problems" as they were referred to back then.

my dad must have been fed some terrible formula back then but he's totally healthy

 

[overcomer79]

If there was no formula then I guess we would have to all bitch about how the milk market is making money Bottom line they would find a way to make money. I had a friend text me the other week saying she was going to sell breastmilk. Ok fine but I won't be a client. I'm not sure the going rate of breast milk these days but can you imagine how much more expensive it would be than formula is now?

 

[smokey]

If there was no formula then I guess we would have to all bitch about how the milk market is making money Bottom line they would find a way to make money. I had a friend text me the other week saying she was going to sell breastmilk. Ok fine but I won't be a client. I'm not sure the going rate of breast milk these days but can you imagine how much more expensive it would be than formula is now?

This is what I was thinking the other day while grabbing some milk off the shelf in the shop.
I thought to myself in a world with no formula there woulf probably be bottles of breast milk along side the rest of this.
The government would find a way of taking it over and charge tax on it or there would be a corperation making millions off it there would probably be no such thing as free donation and the price would probably be twice the amount of formula because of the whole marketing aspect of it being breast milk.

 

[midori1999]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

I would happily donate my milk to anyone who wanted it and I would happily agree to be screened in order to do so. In the UK many women who do Nate informally have already donated to milk banks, but their baby has now become too old to donate to them any longer or something.

I would also happily accept donor milk. I would also be happy to let someone I knew and trusted nurse my daughter. I would do this over using formula.

I wouldn't pay for breast milk. It is generally acknowledged that paying for or selling breast milk is a really bad idea, because donation relies on trust. Trust that the donating mother is honest about health conditions and medications etc. where only is involved people a far more likely to lie about things because they want or need that money.

 

[Kage76]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

 

[midori1999]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

 

[lindseymw]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

HIV?

Nicotine can also be present in breastmilk if the mother smokes?

I'm going to agree with Kage, I'd rather give formula than unscreened breastmilk tbh.

 

[Lina]

^But you have to compare like for like. Unscreened formula isn't safe either.

 

[midori1999]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

HIV?

Nicotine can also be present in breastmilk if the mother smokes?

I'm going to agree with Kage, I'd rather give formula than unscreened breastmilk tbh.

Who has mentioned anyone using unscreened breastmilk?

Also, although I wouldn't personally use the breastmilk of a mother who smoked, it's generally recognised that breastmilk from mothers who smoke is better than formula milk. Let's not forget, according to the WHO, formula is the 4th choice for infant feeding.

 

[NellyLou]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

HIV?

Nicotine can also be present in breastmilk if the mother smokes?

I'm going to agree with Kage, I'd rather give formula than unscreened breastmilk tbh.

Who has mentioned anyone using unscreened breastmilk?

Also, although I wouldn't personally use the breastmilk of a mother who smoked, it's generally recognised that breastmilk from mothers who smoke is better than formula milk. Let's not forget, according to the WHO, formula is the 4th choice for infant feeding.

Just curious, what are the other choices? Breast milk first, I assume donated breast milk second... What is third before formula? I was advised by my doctor and lactation consultant not to use donated breast milk because its impossible to know what medications the donor may be on, what they eat etc.

 

[Kage76]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

HIV Hep A and C come to mind straight away.

 

[cat lover]

nelly its meant to be feed from breast, pump, donor milk, then formula. eta not saying i agr ee with this (i dont, in fact) ,

 

[midori1999]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

HIV Hep A and C come to mind straight away.

Which can all be maternally screened for, so why is that a problem?

 

[midori1999]

Many, many mothers give their breast milk away for free, so why would anyone pay for it?

because like any commodity as soon as people find out that what they produce is actually worth money - then altruism generally takes a back seat.

not to mention they would make it illegal to give away milk- they would insist that all milk be screened and pasteurised so that diseases would not be transmitted.

and im sorry- i would much prefer a can of formula to a complete strangers milk- I don't like the risk of some very nasty diseases being passed on to my daughter with all those beneficial antibodies.

Well, they already sell breast milk in the states as far as I know, yet there are still plenty of women here who choose to give their milk away for free instead and women who accept it.

What 'nasty diseases' do you think your baby is going to get from breast milk?

You know there are 'nasty diseases' in formula milks right?

HIV?

Nicotine can also be present in breastmilk if the mother smokes?

I'm going to agree with Kage, I'd rather give formula than unscreened breastmilk tbh.

Who has mentioned anyone using unscreened breastmilk?

Also, although I wouldn't personally use the breastmilk of a mother who smoked, it's generally recognised that breastmilk from mothers who smoke is better than formula milk. Let's not forget, according to the WHO, formula is the 4th choice for infant feeding.

Just curious, what are the other choices? Breast milk first, I assume donated breast milk second... What is third before formula? I was advised by my doctor and lactation consultant not to use donated breast milk because its impossible to know what medications the donor may be on, what they eat etc.

All this really shows is how little your doctor and lactation consultant (shocking, but anyone can call themselves that) know about breast feeding. Maternal diet makes no difference to the quality of breast milk.

I

 

[midori1999]

I wonder how people would feel if their baby was very premature and knew that formula milk would increase their chance of death, but screened donor milk wouldn't?

 

[smokey]

In that case why is formula the more common used substanced over donor milk in hospitals with premature babies?