Before we get to the meat (or rather, the milk) of today's post, let's start off with some facts: Everybody knows that breast is best, but not everybody is able (or wants) to breastfeed. From our earliest cave-human days to now, there have been babies who need to be fed and mothers who are unable, for one reason or another, to breastfeed them.
We have always needed, and will always continue to need, a just-in-case alternative. That's a no-brainer. And of course the last thing on Earth I would ever want to do is shame anybody for not being able to (or choosing not to) breastfeed. But I also don't want anybody falling prey to the horrendous healthwashing advertising of companies like Nestle and Gerber. These companies want us to think that a chemical cocktail formula is better than what nature can provide, whether in the form of breastmilk or in the form of more whole, unprocessed formula options.
Nestle in particular has been the target of a number of lawsuits in response to its formula health claims, and its marketing tactics have been linked to the deaths of millions of children in impoverished countries.
We've got a bit of a problem here, and it has nothing to do with the parents who are just trying to do their very best for their babies. It has to do with the enormous pile of crappola that goes into every ounce of conventional formula (not to mention the often BPA-lined containers it comes in.)
Here are the ingredients in infant formula from Similac:
Yes, you are reading that correctly. This infant formula contains 42.6% corn syrup solids, followed by genetically modified protein. You wouldn't eat that. If you can choose another option, choose another option!
Let's take a gander at the ingredients in Nestlé Good Start® formula:
partially hydrolyzed reduced minerals whey protein concentrate (from cow's milk), lactose, corn maltodextrin, palm olein, soybean oil, coconut oil, minerals (potassium citrate, potassium phosphate, calcium chloride, tricalcium phosphate, sodium citrate, magnesium chloride, ferrous sulphate, zinc sulphate, sodium chloride, copper sulphate, potassium iodide, manganese sulphate), high oleic safflower oil or high oleic sunflower oil, vitamins (sodium ascorbate, choline bitartrate, inositol, alpha-tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, vitamin a acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, phylloquinone, biotin, vitamin d3, vitamin b12), trypsin, taurine, nucleotides, (cytidine 5'-monophosphate, disodium uridine 5'-monophosphate, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, disodium guanosine 5'-monophosphate), l-carnitine.
Wait... What? Let's Break This Down
- Partially hydrolized whey protein: Whey protein comes from cow's milk, which is one of the most common food allergies in children. Allergic reactions can include diarrhea, hives and swelling of the lips.
- Corn maltodextrin: Corn maltodextrin is a food additive often found in snack foods like chips and crackers. Given that 80% of corn grown in Canada is genetically modified, it's safe to assume that this cheap food additive comes from GMO corn and not the organic kind. It's also a sweetener.
- Soybean oil: Soybean oil is cheap, which means it's found in virtually all processed foods. Like corn, unless otherwise noted, it most likely comes from GMO sources. It's a highly unstable oil, so food manufacturers partially hydrogenate it to raise the melting point and stabilize it so it won't turn rancid. The result? An altered chemical structure and, in many cases, trans fats.
- Palm olein: Research has shown that babies can't properly digest palm oil -- in fact, it reacts with calcium, causing the formation of "soaps" in the baby's intestines, leading to hard stools and lowered bone mass.
- High oleic safflower oil or high oleic sunflower oil: Safflower/sunflower oils are extremely common in packaged foods (read: cheap) are very high in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. If these oils are harmful for adults, why would we feed them to babies just after birth?
Soy-based formulas are even worse -- an infant who is exclusively fed soy formula is estimated to take in the estrogenic equivalent of five birth control pills per day, thanks to soy's phytoestrogens. Judging from the havoc just one birth control pill per day can wreak on an adult woman, those hormones can have lasting, long-term consequences including early onset puberty, menstrual irregularities and fertility issues.
- Lung infections
- Ear infections
- Chronic diseases
- Lower intelligence
- Heart disease
But we know this already, right? You can't throw a stick without hitting yet another article about the benefits of breastfeeding over formula feeding -- but that doesn't change the fact that if you can't breastfeed, you can't breastfeed (although of course, get yourself hooked up with an amazing lactation consultant to be triple sure the problem can't be fixed.)
So what can you do instead?
- Reach out to friends and relatives. Know any awesome breastfeeding mamas who would be willing to share milk with you? For every woman with low supply issues, there's another woman experiencing the exact opposite.
- Connect with a milk bank or milk-share group. Even if you don't have anyone in your immediate network who is willing to donate breastmilk, there are lots of organized groups designed to solve just that problem. If your baby is premature or hospitalized due to illness, you may be able to get pasteurized donor milk by prescription through a milk bank like the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank. But even if your baby is healthy, there are a variety of other networking groups available to help you find a donor, such as Human Milk 4 Human Babies. Just remember that in most cases, safety screenings will be up to you to arrange.
- Consider making your own formula. There are recipes out there for homemade baby formula, which may be right for you, depending on your comfort level. One such recipe was created by the Weston A. Price Foundation. I recommend discussing this option with your paediatrician or naturopath.
- Find the best organic, non-gmo commercial formula you can -- and read the label! If it comes down to it, you may need to use formula. But you have the power to decide which formula you feed your baby. Avoid ingredients like refined sugars (corn syrup solids, maltodextrin), palm oil, soy and carageenan. But keep in mind that in most cases, organic formulas contain almost the exact same ingredients as the conventional brands -- just organic. Better? A little. But still not great. Buy the best quality organic, non-GMO formula you can find, and investigate donor options so you can possibly supplement with breast milk. And don't beat yourself up -- remember that what you feed your kid later is just as important.