How about making formula free on prescription?

[crimplene]

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?

Formula fed children are more likely to have gastroenteritis, respiritory tract infections, ear infections, diabetes, asthma, allergies, obesity, and now there is a link between formula feeding and SIDS or cot death. Therefore there are clear risks to using formula which means that using formula can actually harm your baby.

The majority of people can breastfeed, however there are always instances where formula needs to be given, as described by posters below but only because there isn't enough donated milk in milk banks.

It's easy to spout all that stuff isn't it Poohbah? That doesn't address the real issue of babies that can't breastfeed though, does it? As if milk banks will EVER be the answer?!

Twinklemegan,

If given the option, would you have fed your baby formula or screened safe donated breastmilk???

I have 3 children, all of whom were formula fed. I chose to FF, didn't even try to breastfeed, which no doubt you Poohbar whould see as selfish.

All 3 children are very healthy, and would not hesitate to use formula again were I to have another baby.

I find the constant attitude of disgust from some posters about formula feeding absolutly disgraceful. This website is supposed to support mothers, not dictate to them.

clear but small risks. but i agree mothers should make an informed choice about whether to feed formula or not. an informed choice is one where you weigh up the pros and cons of both sides.

women have to be treated like intelligent sentient beings, and given the information and not forced into making a choice.

i would rather see money ploughed into post natal care and pre & post natal breast feeding support, that is real, educated, factual support, rather than telling mums to top up.

until there is adequate breast feeding support available to every woman everywhere in the country, all of this is a moot point

sandcastles, I know that is the normal way of doing it with spec. formula. I was postulating that if formula was generally on prescription, people would not get small amounts only at a time - the system would not cope otherwise.

riven - you've misunderstood me. Clearly your baby needed feeding somehow!

Cracker of Nuts.. I don't know about your circumstances and wouldn't judge you but truly..Did you know about the risks of formula feeding?? Did you make an informed choice?

FGS Poohbah, you make it sound like formula is poisen or something.

I didn't know of the risks you have just stated no, and if I had, I would have wanted statistical evidence to back up the claim anyway, and then I would have decided.

Also, there were no circumstances to my desicion, I just didn't want to breastfeed.

Don't put a guilt trip on me Poohbah. Given no real choice at all, would have let your baby starve or given them the poison that is formula milk?

I'm pro-breastfeeding in case you're wondering, but that isn't the point here.

There is a huge body of evidence and I think the fact that a formula fed baby is 5 times more likely to be admitted to hospital than a breastfed baby is pretty damming edvidence.

I gave my baby formula when he had Jaundice and would have slept himself to death if I hadn't so can understand where you are coming from Twinkle!

poobah, i did not make an informed choice to formula feed. i wish i had. i had not post natal help at all and was not given the tools or help to breastfeed DD.

i was let down by my MWs and the NHS

piling on guilt is so unhelpful and shows a real lack of compassion

And FWIW, I did know about the risks of formula feeding - all too well. So much so that in my fragile mental state I worried myself into a frenzy that DS was going to die of cot death. I wonder how many other mothers will do that now that you've so kindly drawn their attention to that particular risk.

I disagree poobah, and tbh I think alot of pro bfers on here, chuck about the stats that they want to believe, to back up their OTT attitude towards formula feeding.

X-posted Poohbah. OK, but please try not to make sweeping statements, especially if you've been in a similar position. It can be very hurtful.

Lulamama, I know that from other threads and I am sorry you didn't have the support. I'm not incompassionate at all and I am sorry if my posts seem that way.

i think you have the right goal , but your way of getting there is a big too forthright.

anyone who wants to help promote and support breastfeeding is doing a good thing. but there are ways of getting that message across!!

thank you for the apology.

when you are passionate about something, it is easy to forget to temper your words. i have done the same myself

I think alot of the problems surrounding feeding are caused by a lack of clarity.

I was quite bullied by midwives into breastfeeding but actually no one ever gave me accurate factual information, they just don't have the time to.

No one should feel guilty about the way they fed their baby if they have the right information and help in the first place but nothing will change if people don't discuss things in a frank and honest manner.

i do agree

being frank and honest and open is absolutely key.

lots more MWs and breastfeeding counsellors being available quickly would be a good start

I think everyone benefits if we're clear and honest - it doesn't have to be done unkindly or insensitively. It's not controversial - or shouldn't be - to state that ff has risks. It's just the correct way of saying 'breastfeeding has benefits' ...it doesn't! It only has 'benefits' if you take ff as the norm, and physiologically speaking, of course it is not.

This doesn't imply any judgement on mothers who use it, for whatever reason, and it doesn't mean formula is 'poison'. It doesn't mean anyone should be criticised for not bf, and it doesn't mean mothers should be forced to breastfeed.

The risks are impossible to quantify in an individual case, anyway. There are ways of reducing the risks, too, and it's only when we are upfront about stating that ff has risks that we can discuss ways of minimising them.

tiktok, I see your point...If it were 'normal' for formula to be script only, it would be dealt with differently!

I think there should be warnings on tins of formula & I think midwifes should warn against using it in their ante-natal classes. Get the truth out there, instead of using their Aptimal pens & writing on SMA notepads.

Regardless of parents spounting off about their healthy ff children - how do you know their future health ?

All very well stating my body/my rights. What about the baby's right to a good starting point with their health ? Cows milk is for calves, not to be tampered with & given to babies.

On that note I'm off to bed...

Is it possible to predict someone's future health based on the whether they were ff or bf as a baby? How do you rule out the effects of their lifestyle since weaning?

As much as I hate to see babies being fed formula if the mother genuinely has the option, I can't help but think there are many reasons why a woman might not wish to breastfeed, especially exclusively.
Some may have uncomfortable feelings associated with their breasts, maybe from past experiences, or just find it abhorrent personally...who knows enough to judge?
What I resent much more is any social conditioning or peer pressure that makes Breastfeeding 'undesirable' to some mums.
That is partly where things need to change.

That said, many prescribed things are available to buy over the chemist's counter, if a prescription can't be got, so the 2am argument might not be a valid one, although I can see how it might put certain babies at risk...possibly the ones that would be at risk anyway.
However anything like this would need an awful lot of thought and planning in order to make a positive difference.