Yesterday this new product was brought to my attention and I was asked my opinion. It appears that the formula companies, in all their sneakiness, are now marketing Organic Formula. And of course, Nestle is the big marketer of this product.
So what is my opinion on this? I’m all about organic, so I must think it’s great, right? Too, I could take the attitude of “oh well at least it’s better than regular formula… at least their trying”. But I can’t take that stance either.
The fact that the milk may be organic, doesn’t change the fact that it’s milk. Milk is unhealthy for everyone except a baby cow. Babies, you, me.. all of us. That’s problem number one. Making it organic doesn’t remove the high fat content, the fact that it is a primary cause of dental caries, bone disease and calcium deficiency.
The studies remain in place which show that formula is unhealthy. It's not simply “not as good as human milk” and it's not “second best” to breastmilk… but unhealthy! (see links below)
Infant formula ingredient studied in rats
Contaminants In Infant Formula
Dangers of Formula
The poisoning of infants with formula products, and why breastfeeding is best
Nutrients are good for you. Food has them; mom’s milk has them. But the nutrients “injected” into formula are synthetic.. fake vitamins, fake minerals.. chemicals, chemicals, and more chemicals.
In summary– the formula companies can fool some of the people all of time.. but they’ll never fool me.
Certainly breast milk is best for babies - that is undeniable However your blog doesn't appear to address the fact that formula is sometimes needed for various reasons such as insufficient milk production, adoption, etc. As a formula fed baby in the 70s (when I would argue formula was less like breast milk) I can attest to the fact that formula is preferably to letting your baby be malnourished and I think it's important to reassure your readers that formula is at least an option if breast milk is unavailable for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all women can nurse. Period. Only in the rarest of rarest cases can they not. (A mastectomy is a good example!)
ReplyDeleteAdoptive women can nurse. If a man can do it; an adoptive woman can do it.
Milk production? That's up to mom. The more baby nurses the more milk there is. Supply and demand at it's finest. In cases where there is a valid problem (such as I had with my 5th child who couldn't nurse correctly at first and thus dropped the milk supply) there is fenugreek, Supplemental Nursing Systems and power pumping.
In the extreme case that this doesn't fit the bill? Formula? Nope. Milk bank? Yes. Goat's Milk? Ok. Cow's milk loaded with plastics, reproductive sterlizers and chemicals? No way!
I have to say that I understand and agree with your post, but there are reasons for formula feeding babies. I had a 35 hour induced labor only to have an emergency c-section and be put to sleep for it because the 3 epidurals didn't work. I believe that my experience and fluids/meds recieved in the hospital made it difficult to breastfeed. I tried EVERYTHING to breastfeed and caused myself and my husband a lot of stress. I researched and tried herbs, drugs, pumping, EVERYTHING! I felt SO GULITY for not being able to get my supply up to breastfeed my baby. I finally had to give my baby formula and accept it. I have also known moms who had to give formula because of an intolerance to breastmilk in their babies.
ReplyDeleteNow I have to say, though, that through this experience my next child (if I am so blessed) will NOT be born this way, and I will not allow a c-section unless of an absolute emergency, and will not have an induction.
I suppose my point is that I fully agree breastmilk is best, but please show compassion to those who are unable to breastfeed- not those who choose not to.
I agree that your situation wasn't good. Perhaps a homebirth would have resulted in something different.
ReplyDeleteRarely can a woman not nurse and in those cases, there are options:
Milk Banks
Wet nurses
Using a LLL lactation consultant to help you (that should be first on the list)
Last choice: goat's milk
My my aren't we all just oh so judgmental. These posts are unbelievably bias and extremely condescending! To suggest that those who do not or cannot breastfeed somehow love their children less or are any less of a mother that does is ludicrous! All things are not for all people. And I am sorry that a mother's individual choice of feeding offends so many of you puritanical saints out there however this is the real world where things are not all as we would like. Would all mothers love to stay home and breastfeed or frequent milk banks? I am supposing some would however there are some that would not and what a shame you as a mother should be so predjudicial. Do we not have enough problems in our world then to spend time admonishing other women for a choice different from our own? I will make sure I call the President and ask him to send my husband home from Iraq so that I am able to stay home from work and breastfeed my son as that afterall is the most important thing in the world. We don't need a home to live in our clothing for our children to wear afterall the world will be perfect once we all breastfeed! Get real ladies and grow up!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous:
ReplyDeleteI don't know what article YOU read but it was quite obviously not the article I wrote. I never even spoke of mothers much less their love for the children. I bottle-fed two of mine due to being misled by a doctor. Did I love my children less? Of course not!
Can a woman work and nurse? I worked 20 hours a day and nursed a toddler, so I'm going to guess the answer to that is yes. Although, quite frankly, whether or not you nurse matters not to me. The article was bashing cow's milk and chemicals in formula.
I've said it before:
I have many dear friends who do things completely opposite of me. Some vax; some circ; some bottle feed; many crib. They've never been angry or defensive. Why? They're secure in their choices.
When you grow defensive although not being attacked (especially while hiding behind the veil of anonymity) your words go silent and I'll I can see is a person akin to the drunkard who hates the sober man for being sober.
Get off your moral high horse!It's not about being defensive due to personal decisions I have made with regards to raising my child. I have no shame in saying I breastfed for 6 weeks and it wasn't a good fit for either myself or my child. So I went to a bottle and all is good in the world. My comments are based on the fact of all you self righteous women who have nothing better to do with your time then to sit and preach about how others who have different views then your own are somehow not measuring up to the rest of you "amazing" mothers who breastfed your children. You're one of those people who will always see in black and white no room for contrasting thoughts or opinions and for that it is you whom I feel sorry for. And as far as my view points not being heard? Not a chance! I work in television and am heard every night at 5,6 and 10p.m. on channel 6 FOX news Milwaukee,WI.So save your little euphanisms for someone who buys into the ridiculous words you speak because on your soap box they sound great!By the way the name is tonya not anonymous....
ReplyDeleteOk well you obviously didn't thoroughly read my previous comment. I said that MOST of my friends DO NOT do things in the natural way and that it is NOT a problem for me or them.
ReplyDeleteThat means everything you just said is completely false. Thanks for your time.