The Truth About Infant Formula

Posted by kim on October 8, 2009

I know that medical and scientific communities have long agreed that breast milk is best for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes breast milk as the “gold standard” in infant nutrition, thus making mothers like me that did not breastfeed feel guilty. But after reading the except of this press release, I feel a tad better…

“Many women are unable to breastfeed for the duration of the first twelve months, especially if they are on medication, have multiple births, or must return to work during these difficult economic times,” said Dr. Barbara Levine, Weill Cornell Medical College. “These moms often experience feelings of guilt if they choose not breastfeed, so they purchase expensive formula. But very few really know the truth about infant formula.”

“Buying a heavily marketed, expensive, brand-name infant formula from a big pharmaceutical company does not get your baby any closer to human breast milk than a store-brand formula,” added Dr. Levine. “Mothers can choose to supplement their breast milk with any formula because all formulas are regulated by FDA and nutritionally equivalent.”

My excuses for not breastfeeding ranged from…

“I was a young college student when I had my son. Formula was more convenient and easier to use that having to pump and store breast milk. ”

to…

“My twins were born premature, and my milk had not even come in yet to freeze and save for them. When my milk did come in, we lived three hours away from the NICU so again it wouldn’t have been a hassle.”

I only wish store brand formula had been around years ago when my children were infants as I could’ve saved up to 50% feeding them private labeled formula from Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, CVS, Kroger, Walgreens and/or Babies “R” Us instead of  name-brand formulas such as Enfamil, Similac and/or Good Start.