What If There Was No Formula?

[Tasha]

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

I didnt see her mention quality of milk, just that you dont know what they eat. When I BF my LO some things upset her tummy, I could figure out what was upsetting her tummy by altering my diet but donated BM you cant do that. Maybe that is what the LC was getting at.

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

Because there are not that many people who donate.

 

[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.

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

No it wasn't about quality of breast milk, it was about he possibility of my daughter having allergies to things I was eating. If you use donor milk, unless you have a relationship with the donor, you have no idea what they are consuming to determine what is causing the problem.

 

[NellyLou]

I would definitely use donor milk if I have supply issues again but only if it was from someone I know. I would never use it from a stranger.

 

[vixxen]

I had more than enough milk for my baby, it just didnt have enough calories hence the need to use formula.
Ill babies on the nicu who are more complicated than the babies just needing extra time to grow, have higher calorie needs. Not always corrected with bm fortifier.
This is normally the reason babies are on formula rather than donated milk.

 

[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

No it wasn't about quality of breast milk, it was about he possibility of my daughter having allergies to things I was eating. If you use donor milk, unless you have a relationship with the donor, you have no idea what they are consuming to determine what is causing the problem.

Fair enough. Most women who 'informally' milk share do build a relationship with each other though. Also, many Mums who donate limit their own diet due to their own child's allergies, such as dairy.

 

[Kage76]

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?

If my baby was very premature, the hospital had an established milk bank that screened every donation- not just once then yes i would use donor milk.

However would I use donor milk from a resource off the internet? No. Not in a million years.

Choosing formula doesn't mean that mothers choose to put their children in harms way or as you put it "increasing their chance of death" Its the *only* other alternate there is to breast milk -in my eyes the who recommendation reads - breast milk - breast milk - breast milk- formula. two choices. Not 4

 

[overcomer79]

I wouldn't accept "free" "unscreened" milk. That's what my friend wants to sell "unscreened" milk! If there wasn't formula, the FDA would HAVE to get involved in the breast milk market! Therefore the government would have to put a price on it b/c they have to have money to screen this stuff.

I wouldn't do donor milk b/c if something happened, I would have to trace down said donor and try to figure out what the hell was in their diet. (I work and don't have time to chase them around!). Meantime, what would LO do for food?

 

[smokey]

Plus in a world where donor milk was the norm and sold like cows milk chances are it wouldnt be one donor per bottle, there would probably be a mixture from 3 or 4 donor per container.
It seems a little unreleastic to expect the idea of one container per suplier because could you imagin how people would feel if they knew one container had the milk of a 23 year old upperclass health nut compared to another bottle from a 39 year old, multiple partnered, no teeth, tattoes, multiple peircing woman.
In theory there being no health differance but its the image that would put people off and lead to milk from upper class costing more and milk from lower class being seen as the budget milk so it would end up being a case of it all mixed and youd never know where it came from.

 

[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?

If my baby was very premature, the hospital had an established milk bank that screened every donation- not just once then yes i would use donor milk.

However would I use donor milk from a resource off the internet? No. Not in a million years.

Choosing formula doesn't mean that mothers choose to put their children in harms way or as you put it "increasing their chance of death" Its the *only* other alternate there is to breast milk -in my eyes the who recommendation reads - breast milk - breast milk - breast milk- formula. two choices. Not 4

Donor milk used in hospitals (in the UK at least) is screened in a similar way to blood products and is pasteurised before use. Clearly hospital staff deem it safe to use and certainly in premature babies it is much safer than formula milk.

Donor milk from a 'resource on the Internet' (it's not as simple just finding a random and having their milk) can be just as safe, due of screening and pasteurisation, but that is obviously between the donor and recipient, but many midwives and health professionals do support the services offered by the larger organisations who help make 'informal' milk sharing possible.

I don't think anyone is saying that mothers choose to put their babies in harms way, but it's still fact that infant formula increases the risk of mortality in premature babies.

 

[midori1999]

I wouldn't accept "free" "unscreened" milk. That's what my friend wants to sell "unscreened" milk! If there wasn't formula, the FDA would HAVE to get involved in the breast milk market! Therefore the government would have to put a price on it b/c they have to have money to screen this stuff.

I wouldn't do donor milk b/c if something happened, I would have to trace down said donor and try to figure out what the hell was in their diet. (I work and don't have time to chase them around!). Meantime, what would LO do for food?

You wouldn't need to trace anyone, you would already know them or be in contact with them. As for what your baby would eat in the meantime, what do you think Mothers who breast feed do if they think their baby has an allergy or is intolerant to something? And if you we're really desperate, then of course, there'd be formula.

Formula supply is not without its issue too though, currently in the UK there has been a problem getting 'comfort' milks, with desperate parents bidding three or four times the shop price for formula as its the only way they can get what they need.

 

[Dragonfly]

For any one saying they have to know who their donor milk came from did you know the cow the formula came from or who made that personally? Did you check what chemicals like vaccines the cow had, what the cow ate etc make sure its good formula you are getting.

I keep seeing this come up on my cp and would like to say if formula wasnt invented you would find donor milk no prob, there would be no distrust about it and more woman would help each other and even wet nurse, like it used to be before formula. In this day and age probably less death to as it would have been for sale like formula.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I tend to agree with Dragonfly. Everyone says they have no choice but to use formula. If it didn't exist, you would have no choice but to use donor breast milk as your first option.

 

[cat lover]

genuine question: would there be enough donor milk for those with problems? dont most women produce the amount their own baby needs, or would lots of women nurse other babies from early on as well?

 

[Piper84]

One woman can produce enough milk for several babies if necessary.

 

[pinklightbulb]

Sure can

 

[NellyLou]

For any one saying they have to know who their donor milk came from did you know the cow the formula came from or who made that personally? Did you check what chemicals like vaccines the cow had, what the cow ate etc make sure its good formula you are getting.

I keep seeing this come up on my cp and would like to say if formula wasnt invented you would find donor milk no prob, there would be no distrust about it and more woman would help each other and even wet nurse, like it used to be before formula. In this day and age probably less death to as it would have been for sale like formula.

While I see your point, it is different. Cow's don't have a hugely varied diet, and farmers follow extremely strict rules in regards to vaccines etc. Plus cow's milk is pasteurized. Even then, my daughter eats dairy like yogurt and cheese but will be drinking formula until she is two because it has better nutritional value than cow's milk.

I am assuming that formula was originally invented because it was needed. Parents were probably giving their babies cows milk very early rather than pay for a wet nurse. I assume pumping wasn't as common back then, although i do know people who were able to hand express a lot into a cup no problem.

If guidelines were incredibly strict for sharing breast milk, as it is for cows milk, I would gladly give it to my child. In fact, if I ever get to experience having a good supply of milk, I would love to donate.

 

[Dragonfly]

You blindly trust the farmer and a formula company that you dont know but not another mum handing you milk basically.

 

[overcomer79]

I feel assumptions are being made that people would just offer their milk if there was no formula...sad reality is we live in a greedy world! If there was no formula, I still think it would be made off of breastmilk and nothing will change my opinion on this. Then maybe "breastmilk" banks can be blamed for a lot of the world's issues instead of formula. Then maybe "inappropriate" screening scandals will surface. I'm just saying. I'm not naive enough to believe that people will just offer their milk and not expect money in return.

 

[NellyLou]

You blindly trust the farmer and a formula company that you dont know but not another mum handing you milk basically.

Take a look at my post again and you will see that I trust a farmer who must follow strict guidelines before a stranger who doesn't have guidelines to follow if it is an informal milk sharing. I wouldn't buy milk right from a farm, but if it is in a grocery store, it must comply with regulations.

 

[bubbles123]

They would probably lock a load of poor women in sheds, pay them a pittance and sell their milk in bottles. Much like they do with dairy cows now and surrogate mothers in India. Capitalism sucks.