Karleen writes: However, some babies do not survive (several hundred as a

minimum each year in the US) and it's the hospital system that picks up a

fair proportion of very ill babies (formula fed babies being 5x more likely

to be hospitalised in their first year than those breastfed for the first

few months). That is not flourishing. And then there's the premature deaths

of mothers because they did not breastfeed their babies or did not

breastfeed them for long enough..



I dont' post often but the discussion lately hit a nerve. I do f/u phone

calls at 4-6 days post discharged to brstfding moms and occasionally I have

a mom tell me that they have switched to formula. When I ask how the baby is

doing on the formula they reply "great, growing well...it was best for us to

go to formula". Then when I make a note in the chart I see that the day or

night before the parents had called into the triage line and the baby was

vomiting (not just spit ups) or had diarrhea. There is no fever or other

signs of illness but obviously NOT tolerating the formula. Some have to come

in and get an IV and some are prescribed other formulas. NOW that is "FINE"

according to the parents. I shake my head in disbelief and this is NOT an

isolated incident. I often wonder do I call them back and offer relactation

but they always seem so firm in their decision. "It was best". I wonder if

they would keep eating food that caused vomiting and diarrhea and a trip to

the ER!!! 



RISKS of FORMULA feeding should be part of our education. The parents and

family DOESN'T know them. The discussion lately on our listserve is that

some of our physicians doesn't even know them. They don't know they should

be reporting this to the FDA safety commission. Keep teaching...we have

research on our side. Regards, Mary Ann RN, IBCLC in central WI    





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