Formula only available by prescription... - Page 4

[AlexisT]

In the UK, you can only buy regular, follow-on and soya on the shelf. Some special formulas are available only if you ask the pharmacist (such as the thickened anti-reflux), others require a prescription (Nutramigen, Neocate et al). This is partly because if you get it on prescription through the NHS it's free.

I don't think regular formula should be prescription only (it would be a nightmare) but sometimes I think the hydrolysed formulas should be more controlled. It seems like they get promoted as the cure for colic and fussiness, and I don't think that's appropriate.

[apelilae]

I felt that it should for a long time. The lactivist case is always a good one, but mine was more of a concern with the tampering, the lack of over-sight, the frequent recalls, lack of rigorous testing and screening, and many mothers preparing bottles improperly. I thought that by making it by prescription only, maybe more would continue to breastfeed, but mainly more babies would be safe from contaminated or foul formula and would be given the correct formula with correct prep instructions. I live in a dream world sometimes. I know now that it wouldn't make any difference to moms, babies, or formula companies whatsoever.

[RoadWorkAhead]

Originally Posted by apelilae

I felt that it should for a long time. The lactivist case is always a good one, but mine was more of a concern with the tampering, the lack of over-sight, the frequent recalls, lack of rigorous testing and screening, and many mothers preparing bottles improperly. I thought that by making it by prescription only, maybe more would continue to breastfeed, but mainly more babies would be safe from contaminated or foul formula and would be given the correct formula with correct prep instructions. I live in a dream world sometimes. I know now that it wouldn't make any difference to moms, babies, or formula companies whatsoever.

I had to laugh. DD is on Elecare, one of the few prescription formulas in this country. And NO ONE to date has given us correct mixing instructions. Elecare can be extremely taxing on the kidneys if mixed too potently, but no one mentioned using a digi gram scale to weigh the water and powder. Luckily, another site I am on mentions this frequently, so I know it even if no one mentioned it. NOt the RDs, not the multiple GIs, not the tube nurse, not the HHC that gets me my prescription. I agree with you that this is a big area of concern. The number of people that just fill bottle to X and drop in Y scoops and shake. I've had scoops range from 7-12 grams depending on the settling of the can...thats a pretty big difference! I've also found a few of my mixing bottles are off by several ounces, and even the small baby bottles are often off by .5 ounce or more. Not to mention what temp the water should be, the dangers of over fluoridation, etc. I almost feel like correcting that is part of my lactivist goal now...If I can't get them breastmilk, the least I can do is educate to get them stuff in the best form as possible

[Gilda86]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Yeah, I can't tell if the OP is saying it's a good idea or what...but prescription formula is a TERRIBLE idea. Way too many babies will be guzzeling kool aid and soda if that were to happen. Formula is not medacine, it is a milk substitute. And what a lot of stupid hoops moms who NEED it would have to jump through. Bad bad idea. All the way around.

I'm so happy to see people acknowledging this. I'm for encouraging mothers to breastfeed, NOT punishing them or their children because they won't. I still shake my head at the women who honestly think that if formula went to prescription, mothers would nurse more. From a woman who has seen women feed their babies everything from melted ice cream to watered down soda, I'll be the first to march against such an idea.

Originally Posted by mom2snugbugs

Now when this happens, ff will be the exception instead of the norm. Babies and mamas will still need to FF, but it will be because of other reasons.

You're overlooking the women who don't breastfeed because they simply don't want to. Personally, I can't understand this mindset and never will. I think one of the problems with the breastfeeding movement is that a lot of lactivists have convinced themselves that the only reason why women don't breastfeed is because they can't or because they lack knowledge. You can change all the rules and the laws that you want to, but if you don't change the attitudes of the mothers, it won't help. And contrary to popular belief, telling them that formula is inferior and they're feeding their babies second best isn't going to do it. I can't stand that "watch your language" essay because it misses the simple fact that you can't bully a woman into breastfeeding, and why would we want to?

[honeybunch2k8]

Originally Posted by Gilda86

You're overlooking the women who don't breastfeed because they simply don't want to. Personally, I can't understand this mindset and never will. I think one of the problems with the breastfeeding movement is that a lot of lactivists have convinced themselves that the only reason why women don't breastfeed is because they can't or because they lack knowledge. You can change all the rules and the laws that you want to, but if you don't change the attitudes of the mothers, it won't help. And contrary to popular belief, telling them that formula is inferior and they're feeding their babies second best isn't going to do it. I can't stand that "watch your language" essay because it misses the simple fact that you can't bully a woman into breastfeeding, and why would we want to?

Ditto. I think the prescription idea can and does work in countries where most if not all women want to breastfeed (and the ones who don't do so for medical reasons), have more support, and see that as the norm. Here I doubt it would work.

[catemom]

Okay, so making the formula prescrip only is a bad idea for many reasons. Several of my friends and myself have been pushed formula while in the hospital by the "Lactation Consultants" ("formula salesperson" might be a better title for these psychos) they have on staff there. I was lucky to have been able to go home with my baby when I wanted to b/c the "LC" was worried that my milk wasn't coming in (because I had a c/s and was heavily drugged--duh!). The night I went home, my milk came in and everything was fine--no formula was necessary!

Anyway, after this experience, I think that we at least need to make laws that hospitals have to have stricter guidelines for when formula is truly appropriate and not pushing formula on new moms and thus undermining their confidence to ebf.

Mamas on public assistance (or formerly so) Did you get much information on bfing from docs or anywhere else? Did any of you get help from LLL?

[loraxc]

Count me in as another lactivist who is absolutely 100% completely AGAINST the concept of prescription-only formula. For a lot of reasons already listed here, but also this:

I am pro-choice about pregnancy and childbirth. Women make lots of choices there that I don't personally find to be good, but I will fight to the end for their right to their bodies and their choices. Some women are going to choose not to even try to BF. Do I think it's a poor choice? Yes, but I'll be damned if I think we should take that choice away. Paternalistic, big-brother, all of that. Pandora's Formula Box is open, and we cannot close it.

[Solose]

I think making formula perscription only would be devastating as well create a huge market in illegal formula-traficking.

The medical community once thought that formula was equal to if not better than breastmilk. It was a mistake, but hey, science isn't perfect. Taking away formula now won't make things the way they were before the mass production of formula began. There is just no going back now.

I think making formula perscription only would be the equivalent of outlawing infant daycare. Sure, there are many sound arguments for why a baby should be with it's mother during the first few months of life.But at this time, when there are so many single mothers and fathers no longer see it as their role to be the family provider, and extended family isn't the norm, that just wouldn't be possible unless every woman was guaranteed her working salary for as long as she stayed home with the baby. And even then there would be many mothers abusing the system and getting money while still having someone else take care of their kids.

My point is that there are some things that are just ingrained in our way of life. The ability to ff, to always know that a woman does not have to provide food for her infant with her body is one of them. It's a sad but true fact. Taking away formula won't change people's mentality about this, they will just have to find other ways to get around the laws, or will feed their children cows milk or soda or whatever is available.

Remember, when abortions were illegal and condoms and the pill already availabe, there were still many underground abortions. Clearly, some women, for whatever reason, did not use the resources available to plan their family and underwent very risky operations where their lives where at stake to get rid of the unborn child. So regulating what a woman does with her body obviously does not work.

Sorry if this post is a little disjointed, but I'm typing while ds sits on my lap and painfully pulls at my hair.

[octobermom]

Haven't read all the posts but I'd personally NOT want formula by sucription only I'd hate for a Dr to decide a mama who for what ever reason couldn't breastfeed or needed to supplement that they could only have a script for say 5 feedings a day weaned off at 6 months ect. Nope sorry as it is I know many Formula WIC recievers who water down there formula to make it last longer and introduce solids too early because the WICs benifits of formula isn't enough. At least they could go buy more I'd be devestated if that wasn't possible.

[yvonnemlv]

Originally Posted by MonkeysRUs

II believe it is in Sweden that formula is available only by prescription, and it works well for them, but they also have a much more breastfeeding friendly culture.

Actually, milk based formula is available at any grocery store in Sweden. You can get other types through the pharmacy and not all of them require a prescription (like soy based is prescription free I think, but special kinds would need prescription). I've never formula fed so I don't know exactly what is available where, but I know for sure I've seen milk based formula in grocery stores.

[anthony11]

Originally Posted by preemiemamarach

:

We are living on one income because my son's health prevents me from working at the moment, and this formula (not covered by our super expensive insurance) could break us at $500/month.

FWIW, on your tax return you can deduct medical expenses over 7.5% of, IIRC, adjusted gross income, and arguably you could get away with calling this formula a medical expense.

[Jaysfamily]

My son was a preemie with food allergies. I have low supply. Thank God for easy store bought formula so that we could feed my starving ftt baby, and that we could easily switch him over to Alimentum without dealing with pharmacies and insurance hassles. For the record, he is still nursing today at over 2 years old. I nursed him the entire time, he just never got much from me. Yes, I know this for a fact. After months of scale and pump rentals, doing all the recommendations from LLL, multiple LCs, KellyMom, and watching Dr. Newman videos, and spending a fortune on at-the-breast supplementation, I finally just let him comfort nurse and eat as much milk as he could stimulate my mammary glands to make. Most of his caloric intake was from formula since he had food allergies. Donated milk wasn't an option because I couldn't trust anyone else to properly eliminate wheat, dairy, corn, rice, tomatoes, chocolate, squash, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish from their diets.

I know some of you think that more babies will be breastfed if formula wasn't as readily available. I think prescription only formula will result in babies dying. True lactivism needs to be in the form of education, support, and in setting good examples, not by making it hard for mothers to feed their babies. Look, sometimes during those days of pumping for letdown, nursing, supplementing, pumping again, burping, changing diapers and then starting all over again....well, I would not get the chance to go to the store. It was so comforting knowing that we could run to the store at 10 at night, after pharmacies were closed, and get food for our baby if we ran out. Babies will only be hurt by prescription only formula. I just don't think more babies being breastfed is worth other babies being put in the situation where they might go hungry.

[CEG]

Originally Posted by Michelle Renee

Im coming home from the hospital, I didnt know I had IGT - I refused "the bag". I had no formula in my house because everyone told me that was the right thing to do. I get home - my child is limp and grey and peeing red dust. I had no idea what was going on. My milk isnt coming in. Day two, day three, day four....I put her in the car because literally she looked like she was dying and went to my local BRU and bought a box of individual tubes of enfamil. I felt like it would be wrong to buy a whole can because I wanted to be a successful breastfeeding mom. I mixed up a tube in a small shot class and started feeding her with a syringe. I was terrified. I FINALLY heard her voice. She finally was hydrated.

So I should have had to wait for a doctors appointment and a prescription? My child would have been in kidney failure by then. I know this because by the time the LC saw us - she was starting kidney failure and had lost over over a pound and a half.

I did EVERYTHING I was supposed to - refuse the bag, skin to skin, no pacifier etc and I was the rarity of the 5% of who cant exclusively nurse (and did NOT know that until she was about 10 days old). Imagine dealing with this issue and trying to get a script for formula - thank god Walgreen's is open at 2 am when your child is starving AND you want to breastfeed and you need to feed your baby.

How would formula being a medicine promote a healthy child with this?
How would would formula being available only via a doctors note help this breastfeeding situation?

Exactly this! Formula feeding is not always a choice. Or it is a choice between having a dead baby or using formula. If making it prescription only would make my ins. co pay for it, then that would be nice. But considering they didn't pay for my LC, SNS, pump, lansinoh, fenugreek, domperidone, or anything else I think that's unlikely.

[Twinklefae]

I used to be totally in favour of making formula prescription only. And then I went back to work part time. I was only pumping 4oz a day for my then 12-13month old. He started losing weight. He's allergic to cow's milk and soy. I HAD to go and buy hydrolysed formula (Alimentum) It was a weekend, I didn't have time to get a doctor's appt, my baby needed to be fed, NOW. If formula had been prescription only, I don't know what would have happened.

Working mothers may need to supplement, even if they are bf'ing 100% of the time they are with their child. (Not all babies reverse cycle!)

[AislinCarys]

Originally Posted by MonkeysRUs

I believe it is in Sweden that formula is available only by prescription, and it works well for them, but they also have a much more breastfeeding friendly culture.

Hum. I will see if I can find out if that is true. Maybe formula for newborns? Sweden is very supportive of breastfeeding, but formula is very common as a supplement to breastfeeding - and it is a drink most children from 6 months to 4 years old are dependent upon. Usually formula for newborns is known as "Supplement" rather than formula, and maybe that is on prescription?.

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by kittywitty

Yup, I stand by that. I spent at least $40 a week on prescription formula when my WIC ran out with ds. I was a single mom of 2 making less than $10k a year with no food stamps or monetary help. It SUCKED. I think WIC guidelines should be changed to acurately give you enough formula for your child. Just like they should give you soy milk if you are allergic to dairy. I never said to just do it *poof* all the sudden and leave people in financial hardship or without nutrition.

Wow, so the stuff that cost us about $40 a week to feed our adopted daughter who was lactose intolerate AND casein/dairy allergic should have been MORE expensive? Gee, thanks.

It's great that you think WIC should cover all of your formula while raising the price considerably for those of us who have to pay out of pocket. Seems fair. :

For real. Formula isn't just used by people who decide breastfeeding isn't for them. Formula is used for adopted babies, for that small percentage of babies who actually are allergic to ALL dairy proteins, including human dairy, etc.

I nursed my bio son for 3 1/2 years, using a supplemental nursing system since no matter what drugs, concoctions, or every 2 hour hospital grade pumping regimines I used, I still never produced more than 1/2 an ounce per sitting (as measured by pre-eating and post-eating weights on my son). It cost a HUGE amount of money to buy the lactaid (SNS stuff every month just to do it). And yet you want to considerably raise the cost of the milk to put in that? Remember, those of us not using WIC have to pay out of pocket for every last bit of it.

Not to mention, if it were prescription only, the doctor would then control HOW MUCH formula could be consumed by my infant per month and WHAT TYPE of formula could be consumed. So, being able to buy organic formula and feed my children as much as they need wouldn't be an option--a doctor could use a weight/height/age formula, and write a prescription for only that amount of formula he deems my son worthy of drinking, and in whatever brand the insurance company decides is best.

I'm really pro-breastfeeding--like I said, I nursed my son for years, and nursed my adopted daughter for a week even though I produced very very little milk and had to search all of Hanoi for a supplemental nursing system--except she was allergic to anything we put in the SNS. I went through hell and back just go get my kids even a drop of breastmilk. I was thankful formula was there to pick up where my body left off. But I'll be d***ed if I'm going to rally to make mothers like myself have to choose between the doubled cost of formula, or turning the heat on for my children in the winter. Because $400 a MONTH or more, depending on how much you want this specialized formula my daughter had to drink to increase in cost, is more than we pay for our heating and electricity every month.

[AllyRae]

Dangit, someone bumped a really old thread, and I got all riled up about a really old post nobody will ever come back to read. : I didn't even notice how old the post I quoted actually was before now.

[annettemarie]

It's a hot topic.

If we all could step back a moment and keep in mind that the posts here are meant to be a general discussion of formula and breastfeeding as a societal issue, and not a personal attack. I imagine it's really difficult not to take personally, but the thread is meant to think through an issue, not as an indictment of moms who use formula.