Formula on the NHS?

[flippingstupidnickname]

Hi all,

I have a friend who has a very serious medical condition and has been told that she MUST stop breastfeeding - does anyone know whether she might be able to get formula provided by the NHS?

I think they would only get it prescribed if it is special formula rather than a bog standard one you can buy off the shelf.

I would advise your friend to double, neigh, triple check that. Hcp's are very very quick to tell people to stop bf. Often unnecessarily.

No reason why they would provide off the shelf formula.
Why MUST she stop, very unusual

A good place to check out whether meds that your friend may have to take are ok for BFing (even if they say they're not) is the Breastfeeding Network's drugs line on 0844 412 4665.

Sadly formula isn't available on the NHS unless it's a medical version for the baby. I argue it should be in this circumstance but hey ho.

So sorry to hear that your friend is ill.

Thanks for your advice everyone, I don't want to go into detail about her condition but it's not just about meds. Suffice it to say that she's critically ill in hospital and requires several surgeries.
Just feel awful for her as money's going to be pretty tight as her condition also means she'll be off work long term... just such a shame that she's now got to stump up the cost for FF... heyho

She might be eligible for Healthy Start vouchers for milk?

Ooh, thanks RitaMorgan - any idea what the eligibility criteria is? Off to Google...

I hope your friend is better soon. It is wretched to be forced to stop breastfeeding.

I think the problem with providing formula on the nhs would be judging which mothers have good enough reasons for not breastfeeding. It would be horrific and very traumatic for the women involved.

Prehaps she should go to the CAB to see what benefits she can claim if she is disabled long term.

Ok,dd has had her fornula on prescription for 6 months. She has a cleft palate and even now at 9 months will only manage a maximum of 4oz of milk at once so has high cal formula.
As it is the mothers condition that dictates the need to ff i cannot imagine she will get it on nhs but she will probably qualify for milk vouchers asrita says.

Would using donated breastmilk be an option for your friend do you think?

Have a look at this facebook page- Human Milk for Human Babies

Thanks everyone, I'm investigating whether she might be eligible for DLA as well and if that were the case at least it would go some way to covering her formula costs.

CAB's a good call and I'll definitely look into the vouchers...

She's so amazing, I really want to help. Her LO's only 12 weeks old and she was determined to BF him - he was even in hospital with her and she continued feeding even on morphine. Unfortunately I think it might've actually become life critical that she stop... makes me realise how bloody lucky I am and I'm more determined than ever to BF my little one, due in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the help x

Oooh crikeybadger I had never thought of that - thank you!

hope things get better for her soon