Jodi - posted on 09/28/2010 ( 10 moms have responded )
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I just heard about a proposal in Australia to make formula available by prescription only! I have to admit...I agree...as long as they make it feasible to GET the formula when needed. Read the link:
http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/...
I could not find her entire proposal unfortunately, but that's the basic idea. I think it would be GREAT, and not just for Australia, but for the U.S., Canada, make it global. Like I said, it needs to be feasible. We'll have to increase the amount of lactation consultants and make sure doctors are thuroughly and properly educated on breastfeeding, the road blocks and how to combat them. Mothers should have a 24/7 hotline to call WITH consultants that can get to your house at a moment's notice at 2 a.m. if need be to help with issues like, latch, positioning, supply, growth spurts etc etc etc. I also think that the consultants should be able to give out prescriptions and for the cases where a mother calls at 2 a.m. and the consultant deems formula neccessary can give the mother a 24 hour sample of formula until she can fill the prescription.
I don't think that formula should be absolutely impossible to get either, I just think that a mother should give it a try and have educated help starting and combating issues that most commonly prevent mothers from having a successful breastfeeding relationship. I always hear that it's a parent's right how to feed their child, but what about the baby's right to proper, IDEAL and natural nutrition? This would ensure that a mother CAN get formula if it "isn't for her" (as is one of the reasons I hear SOOOO often) and that baby is given the opportunity to the best and most nutritional food supply straight off the bat.
Besides that, medications are much more regulated than any food, ensuring much higher quality formula for babies/mothers who do need it. Formula companies would surely advertise less, leaving more money just for the purpose of investing it into better ingredients, better safety precautions and again, ensuring higher quality formula. Besides that, as a medication, it would be covered by most insurances, saving cost to the mother who does NEED the formula.
Mothers win in being given the proper support they need to breastfeed AND still have the option to formula feed if neccessary. Babies win with being allowed the best nutrition straight off the bat. Society would win with higher breastfeeding rates which would/could result in a smarter and healthier future population while also lowering breastcancer rates. The only ones NOT benefiting from this scenario is the multi-billion dollar formula industries.
Obviously, I support this movement with the proper guidance to ensure certain rights (such as, not forcing a mother to breastfeed and undergo undue stress and resentment simply because the has the ability to lactate). I have nothing against mothers who use formula for WHATEVER reason, my issue is with the medical society and it's lack of education and support on the subject of breastfeeding and with the money hungry formula industries who don't give two hoots about the health of our children but only making the mommies feel secure and happy while forking over millions of dollars for inferior food. What are your thoughts? And let's keep it civil please ladies! We're all grown-ups...this is controversial...but let's keep in mind, while we may have toddlers and young kids at home...we ourselves are not children and conduct ourselves appropriately! Thanks!
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