Everyone on this list is devoted to human milk for human milks and we
all know what is wrong with formula.  Nevertheless, we need to recognize
that commercial ABM is far more suitable than goat's milk or soy milk or
any other substitute, no matter how organic, when an infant cannot have
access to human milk.

I work with many adopting mothers.  Sometimes I wonder how these women
have so thoroughly picked up the message that commercial ABM is
problematic when some many people in our culture haven't got a clue.

Some of the ideas I have heard about what to feed the baby instead of a
commercial ABM  are really scary!  I always tell mothers that until the
time that they have a full milk supply or their child is one year old,
commercial ABM is the only acceptable alternative.

The soy milk or goat's milk or rice milk or almond milk may be organic
but it is totally unsuited for human brain growth.  As professionals, it
is absolutely essential that we help women make informed choices and
that we help them understand what is at stake if a baby is feed
something as inappropriate as some of these "alternative" substitute
"milks".

Happy new year to you all!
Judy Gelman, IBCLC
Washington, DC, where the ground has a slick new cover of ice.