Breastfeed or else

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Formula by prescription only? Ah.......make it one step harder for people to adopt........

I just envision you getting your script for the year when you go in for your well baby checks. I don't see how it would be any different or make it more difficult.

Uh, no kidding some people don't have insurance. I've sure been there. Still have to buy my kids' meds whether I have insurance or not. That is what planning, WIC, and assistance programs are for.

Shrug. It's just a thought. I think the current system isn't working so well; just throwing out my two cents on how to improve the quality of food our babies get and the support their mothers and caregivers receive.

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I just envision you getting your script for the year when you go in for your well baby checks. I don't see how it would be any different or make it more difficult.

Uh, no kidding some people don't have insurance. I've sure been there. Still have to buy my kids' meds whether I have insurance or not. That is what planning, WIC, and assistance programs are for.

Shrug. It's just a thought. I think the current system isn't working so well; just throwing out my two cents on how to improve the quality of food our babies get and the support their mothers and caregivers receive.

There are many people who do not have insurance and can't afford meds/medical care, yet make too much to qualify for assistance. What about them? Those are the people likely to mixed weakened formula in an effort to stretch it.

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So what do those people do for food? I guess I just don't see the difference between paying for your baby's formula and paying for food. It's not like formula is cheap now. It's made by pharmaceutical companies anyhow. How would the price increase? Because of improvements? So we should keep it simple and marginally adequate, so that it is affordable. I disagree. I really don't see how the price would go up so much, because it's not a new med.

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I'm not saying I have all the answers; and people in the middle are ALWAYS going to fall through the cracks. I wish I could solve that, but I'm not sure I can. But I think that if insurance and medical cards paid for formula, we would see *greater* access of the working poor to quality breastmilk substitutes, not less.

Of course, it would all depend upon how much the drug companies want to gouge for formula....:madface:

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How about some positive, truthful ads. (Cute little baby thinking or maybe fetus) Something like...less ear infections, less dr. visits, less risk of breast ca. for my mom. Breastfeeding...think about it... just for the health of it. (No bull riders or dare devils or other ridiculous stuff).

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Specializes in OB.
Subsidizing moms to stay at home (prolonged paid maternity leave) would further increase my own taxes to the point that I, too, would have to become a ward of the state.

But see, this is my perfect world.. and in it, the gov'ment pays this, not the tax payers ;)

I believe there are other countries that do this- extended maternity leave with pay at no extra cost to taxpayers. They also subsidize daycares so that educated child care providers will get a decent wage for providing care. Who with a college degree in childhood education is willing to work in a day care center in the US with its pitiful wages?? but then again, who can afford to pay more for child care.

And yes, I waited to be able to afford to stay home with my kids till they were school age. I was lucky. Most women can't do that. its hard to get by on 2 incomes let alone one.

and my last thought- on the formula prescriptions.. you cant force women to breastfeed. Taking the right away to choose breast or bottle is the same as any other choice.. my body, my decision. Mandating something like that would open a whole kettle of very stinky fish. Yes, breast is best for baby, I dont think anyone here disagrees with that.. but it is still a personal choice. Just like when I am pg and want that Twinkie instead of a salad..

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So what do those people do for food? I guess I just don't see the difference between paying for your baby's formula and paying for food. It's not like formula is cheap now. It's made by pharmaceutical companies anyhow. How would the price increase? Because of improvements? So we should keep it simple and marginally adequate, so that it is affordable. I disagree. I really don't see how the price would go up so much, because it's not a new med.

Prescriptions always cost more than OTC, and there would be the added cost of doctor visits to get the script.

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I breastfed 3 of my 4 sons. I can't say that they are any healthier that the bottle fed one - in fact I would say that they had more problems with childhood illness that the bottle fed one.

What is alarming to me is the fact that some folks feel the need to have 'government intervention' in the raising of one's children - ie: making formula by prescription only.

Laws should be enacted for a good reason - like the seatbelt laws. But just because I think breast is best doesn't give me the right to force that on anyone by way of making them obtain 'education' about using formula!!

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Again, I'm going to refer to "Watch your Language" by Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC.

Best possible, ideal, optimal, perfect. Are you the best possible parent? Is your home life ideal? Do you provide optimal meals? Of course not. Those are admirable goals, not minimum standards. Let's rephrase. Is your parenting inadequate? Is your home life subnormal? Do you provide deficient meals? Now it hurts. You may not expect to be far above normal, but you certainly don't want to be below normal.

When we (and the artificial milk manufacturers) say that breastfeeding is the best possible way to feed babies because it provides their ideal food, perfectly balanced for optimal infant nutrition, the logical response is, "So what?" Our own experience tells us that optimal is not necessary. Normal is fine, and implied in this language is the absolute normalcy--and thus safety and adequacy--of artifical feeding. The truth is, breastfeeding is nothing more than normal. Artificial feeding, which is neither the same nor superior, is therefore, deficient, incomplete, and inferior. Those are difficult words, but they have an appropriate place in our vocabulary.

...

Health comparisons use a biological not a cultural norm whether the deviation is harmful or helpful. Smokers have higher rates of illness; increasing prenatal folic acid may reduce fetal defects. Because breastfeeding is the biological norm, breastfed babies are not "healthier;" artificially-fed babies are ill more often and more seriously. Breastfed babies do not "smell better;" artificial feeding results in an abnormal and unpleasant odor that reflects problems in an infant's gut. We cannot expect to create a breastfeeding culture if we do not insist on a breastfeeding model of health in both our language and our literature.

Read the whole article. It's very good and thought provoking. http://www.breastfeedingisnormal.org/WatchYourLanguage

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
How about some positive, truthful ads. (Cute little baby thinking or maybe fetus) Something like...less ear infections, less dr. visits, less risk of breast ca. for my mom. Breastfeeding...think about it... just for the health of it. (No bull riders or dare devils or other ridiculous stuff).

That sounds nice. I don't like anything that makes a mom feel guilty about doing/not doing something. Motherhood is full of guilt. (I sometimes feel terribly guilty for putting down dd to go pee, and I know very well if I put her down while she is awake she will fuss, but sometimes I just can't hold it! I feel bad for letting her fuss while I pee and wash my hands.) No doom and gloom about what can happen if you don't BF, or dangers of FF.

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That sounds nice. I don't like anything that makes a mom feel guilty about doing/not doing something. Motherhood is full of guilt.

My point exactly provide truthful positive information. Years of guilt inducing stuff has not worked.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

What is alarming to me is the fact that some folks feel the need to have 'government intervention' in the raising of one's children - ie: making formula by prescription only.

Laws should be enacted for a good reason - like the seatbelt laws. But just because I think breast is best doesn't give me the right to force that on anyone by way of making them obtain 'education' about using formula!!

I agree with you!!! I don't like government intervention on many issues (but thats another thread!). Would I then need special waiver from their ped to give my kid a piece of birthday cake if they were overweight? I know it is a stretch, but we need to be able to make some decisions for ourselves.

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