I'll just point in here that it is common for women to ask for formula and
say that their milk has dried up. This is very common in emergency
situations. Often this can be because they are under extreme stress and this
has delayed their MER (ie their milk supply is fine but the baby may be
fussy) or the turmoil of the situation has resulted in less frequent feeds
than usual, decreasing their milk supply. Mothers may also say that their
milk has dried up because they believe that this will result in them being
given formula (a high value product that often few can afford to buy
themselves and which many believe is better than breastmilk- word can get
around quickly about what you need to do to get the formula). Regardless,
the reason why the action required is pretty much the same. "I need formula"
should not be accepted at face value but investigated by an appropriately
trained person and breastfeeding support provided. If mothers genuinely have
low milk supply then some formula supplementation may be necessary but as a
temporary measure until milk supply is sufficient. Infant formula is
provided as absolutely the last resort!!
The inappropriate distribution of infant formula can be incredibly harmful.
Not just on the current generation of babies but on the generations that
follow. It's so important to be so careful. It is much easier to prevent
problems than to try to clean up the mess that results from inappropriate
practices.
Karleen Gribble
Australia
Rowena wrote: "I was sad to see how much formula went with us, UNTIL I SAW
THE NEED. In a place where breastfeeding is normal, we saw so many mommies
afraid for their babies because their milk had dried up"
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