Jaye writes: "And just because the 6 month old is healthy does NOT mean that
using formula won't hurt them.  It will.  We may not see it - they may act
just fine - but what is happening to their gut, to their immune system?
What is going on inside that we can't see now but may see later?"

 

This is the main issue in developed countries:  we "may" see a problem
later. People do NOT see health problems that happen later as  being related
to the formula they received as infants, and I'm not sure there is specific
evidence that we can point out to people.  Can the breast cancer that I had
at age 48 (after breastfeeding for 3 years, by the way) be linked back to
the fact that I was formula fed?  How can that specifically be proven?  Now,
lung cancer and the gross pictures of lungs of smokers are so obvious, and
everyone can SEE the blatant evidence of the dangers of smoking---but I
don't think society will be convinced of the dangers of formula feeding
until there are some pictures like those lungs that they can see.  We talk
about the danger of formula but people don't see it, and there are so many
other factors, environmental and otherwise, that contribute to obesity,
diabetes, cancer, etc that we can't pull formula out and say Ah Ha! that's
what caused your problem. I am as supportive of anyone of the biological
normalcy of breast feeding and breast milk as the healthiest food for
babies, and yes, yes I agree about the risks and I know about the evidence
for babies' immune systems and gut protection, etc but we're beating our
heads against the wall in developed countries when trying to convince most
people about the "danger" of formula, because it's  just not obvious and
many sources are telling them that formula is safe. 

 

P.S.  Jaye, could you tell us the condition these babies had where breast
milk was needed to save their lives?  That would be a "specific" situation.

 

Melinda Lueck, RN, BSN, IBCLC

USA


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