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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

How about making formula free on prescription?

135 replies

crimplene · 03/05/2008 19:34

I've been wondering whether making formula free on prescription help solve some of the problems around the formula/ breast battle.

I'm sure this has been sugested before, but I'd be really interested in whether anyone else thinks it might help, or whether I've missed the point somewhere. I know it's not very likely to actually happen.

If formula were put in its proper context; it's there for when our bodies don't work properly for whatever reason (like insulin in bottles if your pancreas doesn't work properly) there wouldn't be any more stigma attached to using it if you need to than an antibiotic - but you'd only do it if you need to. There wouldn't be anything to be gained from promoting it to consumers and the packaging should be about as unglamourous as any prescription medicine. Parents using it would have to be given proper instructions on how to make it as safe as possible by the prescriber. There would obviously still be the difficulty of companies promoting it to doctors.

In this context, it wouldn't seem like a 'lifestyle choice' and that would have to level the playing field as far as bf is concerned. It would have the added benefit of getting the (couple of) mothers I've met recently who decided that the government vouchers go further if you spend them on cow's milk from birth, to actually give their DCs formula.

Or does anyone bf solely because it's cheaper?

OP posts:

Twinklemegan · 03/05/2008 23:13

You see, this is why I swore not to post on these thread. Immediately you get an insensitive comment like that and I'm all wound up again. Nearly 2 years on!

scottishmummy · 03/05/2008 23:23

Ankyloglossia is a well recognised medical condition ranging in severity of presentation but research suggests DOES IMPEDE feeding and it sounds to me as if TwinkleMegan knows what she is on about

Twinklemegan · 03/05/2008 23:31

Thanks SM. Sadly, there seems to be nothing people like me can do to convince others that we're not just bone idle.

scottishmummy · 03/05/2008 23:35

just step back, glass of wine, summat lighter theses topics are always contentious

Twinklemegan · 03/05/2008 23:43

Yes, I'm not getting drawn in, it just pisses me off. Nothing ever changes - the same old smug comments time and again. I am stepping away from the thread now...

hatrick · 03/05/2008 23:46

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solo · 03/05/2008 23:51

I had trouble getting a bottle of paed paracetamol when Dd was really sick...I hadn't got two pennies to rub together and I had to explain myself for that. Getting formula on prescription is not going to happen for the many IMO.

sandcastles · 04/05/2008 04:18

Actually, I think making formula script only will be more likely to make mums give their babies cow's milk!

Imagine, low on formula...no time to get a new script, or get that script filled, or the chemist didn't have any left [because lets face it, they would have to keep shed loads]. Middle of night, no formula, screaming baby, no 24 hour Tesco selling formula......

Only milk you have is cow's.....

WWYD? Or, what would a tired & stressed mum do?

tiktok · 04/05/2008 09:36

I think anyone who gives it more than a moment's thought realises that formula on prescription is a non-starter for practical reasons and out of principle - infant feeding decisions should be made by the parents.

The scenario envisaged by sandcastles would not arise, though, as any prescription would be made for several months at a time - would be crazy to make mothers get a repeat every week.

However, the idea that someone medical should 'allow' you to formula feed after they have assessed your situation is to assume that doctors, midwives and others are qualified to do this - and this is just not the case. You would get just as much unnecessary supplementing with formula as ever, and mothers who decided to use formula for a reason the midwife did not approve of would end up having to invent symptoms in their babies...leading to unnecessary investigations.

There would not be one more drop of breastmilk given to any baby, either....

Nowhere else in the world has formula on prescription.

sarah293 · 04/05/2008 09:44

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tiktok · 04/05/2008 09:54

riven - I agree special formulas should be available on prescription. How did the docs cause you to ff?

sarah293 · 04/05/2008 10:01

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MamaG · 04/05/2008 10:05

I was given formula for DS

I was persuaded by HV to give up BF when he was 6 weeks old as he was putting on weight. They prescribed ready made cartons of infatrini and he got that until he was over 1.

Never had to pay for it

MamaG · 04/05/2008 10:06

was not putting on weight

of ocurse, with hindsight, it was a crock of shit because his weight gain didn't improve even when he had the blooyd infatrini and if same happens with THIS baby I'll tell them to piss off!

tiktok · 04/05/2008 10:10

riven and MamaG - two sad stories of poor professional knowledge about infant feeding. It's in this sort of world that prescriptions would be given....

Crimplene, you're the OP. Are you still 'wondering' about this, or do you reckon you've heard enough?

sabire · 04/05/2008 10:19

So is the question of whether formula should only be available on prescription dealt with then?

I think the consensus on this would have to be a resounding 'no'.

My opinion for what it's worth is that I don't generally trust doctors to make sensible decisions on my behalf. Especially not when they've only got 35 seconds per consultation to decide on what course of action is best to take!

Anyway, until someone comes along and invents a machine (like that one on the Simpsons, don't know if anyone remembers the episode) which can tell you what babies are really thinking and what they want, this is a choice where only the mum's voice needs to be heard.

sarah293 · 04/05/2008 12:05

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Message withdrawn

sandcastles · 04/05/2008 12:13

tiktok, dd was on script only formula & I was given a script for 1 tin at a time, 2 sometimes if a certain Dr refilled the script.

Original poster

crimplene · 04/05/2008 12:14

tiktok - no! I'm not still wondering; it's obviously a wildly unpopular non-starter. The answers have given me a lot more food for thought though. It wasn't really meant to be a very practical suggestion as things stand, more of a 'what if?' I suppose it's not something I ever get the chance to discuss with anyone in RL.

I am still very worried about the mothers I know who are chosing not to give thier babies formula under the existing system, but this can't be the answer.

I do think that breastfeeding is a responsiblity you take on when you have a child like many other aspects of childcare and I don't think that formula feeding is a reasonable 'choice' but an effective safety measure that's there if you can't bf for any reason. However, my view is obviously seriously at odds to that of many many people.

OP posts:

Poohbah · 04/05/2008 13:57

Prescriptions are free in wales and I'm danned if I'm going to pay via my taxes to harm a baby's health as I'm sure lots of women would get their GP's to prescribe it to them.

Inability to breastfeed is not generally a medical issue in the huge majority of cases is it? Why medicalise it?

Interestingly though,perhaps if their were more breastfeeders and milk banks, then Paeds and Midwives could precribe that when Mums TRULY can't feed as opposed to having duff advice etc etc etc....

More help around the home on prescription would be welcome though.

Poohbah · 04/05/2008 13:57

Prescriptions are free in wales and I'm danned if I'm going to pay via my taxes to harm a baby's health as I'm sure lots of women would get their GP's to prescribe it to them.

Inability to breastfeed is not generally a medical issue in the huge majority of cases is it? Why medicalise it?

Interestingly though,perhaps if their were more breastfeeders and milk banks, then Paeds and Midwives could precribe that when Mums TRULY can't feed as opposed to having duff advice etc etc etc....

More help around the home on prescription would be welcome though.

CrackerOfNuts · 04/05/2008 14:01

You have got to be kidding.

So would a woman have to show that she had tried to breast feed first or what ? What exactly would the criteria be ?

The attitude towards bottle feeding on this website, is getting so stupid. Women are supposed to have a choice in how they choose to feed their baby.

Twinklemegan · 04/05/2008 14:04

An INABILITY to breastfeed is certainly a medical issue is it not? Same as an INABILITY to conceive, or an INABILITY to walk come to that. What a ridiculous load of comments again.

I'm still puzzled as to why a cosmetic issue like a little dry skin is treated for free, but a life and death issue like an inability to feed naturally is not.

Of course it would be unworkable given the lack of knowledge and training within the medical profession, but most of you are dismissing it on principle! Won't pay taxes to harm a baby - what a load of rubbish! Walk a mile in the shoes of someone who was unable to successfully breastfeed, and then come back to a discussion like this and see how you respond.

CrackerOfNuts · 04/05/2008 14:06

Poohbah, sorry if I am misunderstanding your post, but did you just basically say that formula feeding harms a baby's health ?

Twinklemegan · 04/05/2008 14:07

I'd say starving a baby is a bit more harmful to their health, wouldn't you Poohbah?

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