can we get ABM companies to call it what it is?

[*mama moose*]

so, this idea is not my own, it came from my peer councilor at WIC when we were chatting tonight, but I think its a good discussion/starting point for another vein of the lactivist movement, so I wanted to post it here.
Can we get ABM companies to actually call it "artificial baby milk"?
Where did "formula" come from? it doesn't even make sense as a name, when you think about what the word formula means!! I know the WHO calls it ABM, dont they? could we work on legislation or SOMETHING so that they have to label it as ABM? Her thoughts were that it would make it less appealing and serve to point out that it is ARTIFICIAL and not actually as good as BM, and I agree.
what do you think about this idea? has it been said/tried before?

[BlueBella]

I can picture it now,

N_____'s artificial BABY MILK!!

sorry i'm such a pessimist!

ETA: I DO agree with your point though

[*mama moose*]

thats so true!

in seriousness, I liked her suggestion though as comming from someone who works for WIC, and saying if she could just call it that when talking to moms, if it was on the forms, etc, that maybe more women would realize what it really is

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

Read the book, "The Politics of Breastfeeding" by Gabrielle Palmer, it explains the whole history of formula and breastfeeding. I don't have the exact quotes but the book states that years ago doctors perscribed a "formula" of sorts, I believe a mixture of syrup, condensed milk, etc. to the babies and that's how the name came to be. Although the book states that the parents found it easier to buy it premade and the doctors prescriptions were not used much--but that is how the name formula came to be. I think it is still used because it sounds like it is some special high tech substance that is 'good' for babies opposed to using the name Artifical Baby Milk. Who would want to buy something for there precious little ones with the word Artificial on it? It's all about marketing.

I unfortunately have to supplement with the stuff because I cannot make enough breastmilk for my lo--but I can't wait until my lo is old enough to eat solids and over a year so he can stop drinking the AFB!

[mommaduck]

I actually had an old mother's book that told how to make formula. Evaporated Milk, cornsyrup, and boiled water. (okay, that all sounds gross...but so is store bought formula)


A funny: a friend of mine used to "steal" some of her SIL's EBM every morning from the fridge to use in her coffee (SIL was dressing children, thus never knew...till...). One morning the friend took the bottle (again) and added a small amount to her coffee, took a sip, and spewed her coffee. SIL comes out and asks what's wrong. "You switched to formula!" "Yeah, how did you know?" "well, uh, I've, uh, been using it in my, uh coffee" "Serves you right stealing milk from the babies...LOL"