> We had an
> adopting mother come to us about breastfeeding her adoptive baby.  She
> wanted
> a SNS and told us that she planned to feed the baby a home made formula of
> goat's milk and some supplements from the health food store.  We suggested
> to
> her that this might not be a good idea

I heartily agree!! For all the problems ABM manufacturers cause, the
fact remains that they do provide the only acceptable alternative to BM
for the first year should BM be absolutely unavailable.  Maybe this mom
could find a wet-nurse? (just kidding) When, in this case of adoption,
BFing exclusively cannot happen (or happen right away), there is no
mother's kitchen in the world that can possibly create the complex
quality that the formula manufacturer's create. True enough, mothers
used to create their own formula (that's why it is called formula; it is
also why frequent well-baby care appointments were so necessary because
the pediatrician would write down adjustments to the formula each
visit). What a hassle! I've "been there, done that" for my younger
siblings - a set of twins born when I was 14 years old. One of my
*daily* household chores was making their formula - big old sterilizer
on top of the stove, tongs to handle the bottles, etc, cans of
evaporated milk, corn syrup, and whatever else was the additive of the
week. Never was there a consideration for adding folic acid or taurine
or vitamins or minerals (they took infant viatmins from birth) of any
kind, let alone in the best combination as known from research, nor
could we possibly heat treat the milk to temper the protein molecule for
better tolerance by the infant gut (pressure cookers may do this to some
extent but probably not).  I've had this question posed to me, too.
Usually the women are saavy enough to care about the corporate greed and
simply not want to "feed" into it (pun unintended). Instead I help them
locate information on who is doing the least repugnant activities in
infant health and ABM promotion. Mom then chooses a less irritating
company to patronize. (Anyway, who can find a sterilizer these days??)

Katharine West, BSN, MPH
Sherman Oaks, CA