What’s Behind America’s Shocking Baby-Formula Shortage?

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Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,245
1,660
113
#1
This is a problem near and dear to my heart. My granddaughter will bring a daughter into this mixed up world in July. She has always planned to breast feed for the first four months, but is now considering the next few months.

What happens if she cannot produce milk? My GDIL had three girls, and she couldn't produce a drop of milk. She had no choice but to bottle feed.

There are a lot of mothers here. What do you recommend new mothers do? Especially if they cannot get formula.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-shortage-abbott-recall/629828/
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
37,420
6,913
113
#2
This is a problem near and dear to my heart. My granddaughter will bring a daughter into this mixed up world in July. She has always planned to breast feed for the first four months, but is now considering the next few months.

What happens if she cannot produce milk? My GDIL had three girls, and she couldn't produce a drop of milk. She had no choice but to bottle feed.

There are a lot of mothers here. What do you recommend new mothers do? Especially if they cannot get formula.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-shortage-abbott-recall/629828/
Why can't you use cow milk or goat milk or powdered milk? Just a question, is there some reason why "baby formula" is better than milk or why you can't use some other milk?
 

BeeThePeace

Active member
May 2, 2022
443
135
43
#3

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
3,344
3,720
113
68
#5
There's is an apparent surplus of diapers and baby formula piled up in various facilities on the southern border, pallets of it piled one on top of another on top of another (this was on the evening news tonight, just FYI).

The news also warned against attempting to make your own homemade baby formula, again, just FYI.

Moms and dads aren't going to let their babies starve. If this is not resolved in very short order, this is going to get ugly!!
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,299
1,713
113
#6
There's is an apparent surplus of diapers and baby formula piled up in various facilities on the southern border, pallets of it piled one on top of another on top of another (this was on the evening news tonight, just FYI).

The news also warned against attempting to make your own homemade baby formula, again, just FYI.

Moms and dads aren't going to let their babies starve. If this is not resolved in very short order, this is going to get ugly!!
So they take the formula for the border people and then tell parents not to make their own?
Do they WANT babies to starve to death??

I also heard (but haven't confirmed) a bunch of formula was sent to Afghanistan...
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,299
1,713
113
#7
Going against the warning of the "news"... formula can be made using evaporated milk, karo syrup, and water.
You can also make formula using goat milk but it requires a few other ingredients (not sure what they are).
Look it up before the information becomes "misinformation". Or before they start taking away evaporated milk, too.
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
12,388
6,731
113
#8
So they take the formula for the border people and then tell parents not to make their own?
Do they WANT babies to starve to death??

I also heard (but haven't confirmed) a bunch of formula was sent to Afghanistan...
hate to say it, but that might be the plan.

o come Lord Jesus.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#9
Actually...
I'd ignore the news. I'd take that "recalled " baby formula and give it to my baby without fear.

Because the whole recall and closing of the plant is based on politics. The political infighting has gotten so bad that they would rather starve babies than let it go. I looked directly at the charges and test results...and in every case (there were 4) the water used to mix the formula with was the culprit and not the formula itself.

That's the truth.

But they are going to continue to fight and starve babies in the meantime. Literally.
 

Hazelelponi

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2019
609
397
63
USA
#10
This is a problem near and dear to my heart. My granddaughter will bring a daughter into this mixed up world in July. She has always planned to breast feed for the first four months, but is now considering the next few months.

What happens if she cannot produce milk? My GDIL had three girls, and she couldn't produce a drop of milk. She had no choice but to bottle feed.

There are a lot of mothers here. What do you recommend new mothers do? Especially if they cannot get formula.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-shortage-abbott-recall/629828/
Mother's that bottle feed are networking in areas facing more extreme shortages.

While there is less on the shelves some areas have a greater shortage than other areas, at least right now. That makes networking for baby formula possible.

I can still walk into my local stores and see formula on the shelves, no issue. This type of thing is where networking comes in.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#11
Mother's that bottle feed are networking in areas facing more extreme shortages.

While there is less on the shelves some areas have a greater shortage than other areas, at least right now. That makes networking for baby formula possible.

I can still walk into my local stores and see formula on the shelves, no issue. This type of thing is where networking comes in.
Here in TN the Walmart is out. Bare shelves. Target is also out. Kroger is out. Publix is out.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,245
1,660
113
#13
Our children were raised on evaporated milk. They also received a daily "baby" vitamin supplement. The supplement was provided by a prescription.

Formulas have replaced the above. I don't know if they even make the "baby" vitamin supplement any more.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
4,997
2,163
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#14
I mean it’s just like everything else in terms of prices and delays after covid.
‘My friend who works in construction says that materials alone for a deck would cost around $1,200 only a year ago. Now they’re around $2,400.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
37,420
6,913
113
#15
Actually...
I'd ignore the news. I'd take that "recalled " baby formula and give it to my baby without fear.
When they are saying, Peace and safety,

1Thessalonians 5:3 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.


Why is there a shortage of Baby formula? They are saying that is for our safety, they are recalling baby formula for our safety. Why are they sending $40 billion to Ukraine? They are saying that is for peace. Why is China shutting down 45 cities, 40% of their economy and the great bulk of trade with the US? They are saying that is for people's safety. Why are they mandating the vaccine even though the data indicates the more shots you get the more likely you are to get sick? They are saying that is for our safety. Why are they ceding all authority to the W.H.O. concerning health in the US? They are saying that is for our safety. Why did they steal the election from Trump? They are saying that is to keep the peace. Why did Biden leave all our military assets in Afghanistan? He was saying that was for peace.

They are doing all kinds of crazy insane things and always the nutty reason is because of "peace and security".
 

Mii

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2019
2,082
1,330
113
#16
Well, it's kind of weird but some mothers produce more milk than others and there's a surplus...

I imagine that just based on biology that wet nurses still exist in some fashion.

A quick search seems to suggest it stores well in a freezer so it wouldn't need to be "super" awkward or anything...you can bottle feed young. Sure there's a bit of psychology to bottle feeding as opposed to breastfeeding but ..."if pressed"...
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#17
Well, it's kind of weird but some mothers produce more milk than others and there's a surplus...

I imagine that just based on biology that wet nurses still exist in some fashion.

A quick search seems to suggest it stores well in a freezer so it wouldn't need to be "super" awkward or anything...you can bottle feed young. Sure there's a bit of psychology to bottle feeding as opposed to breastfeeding but ..."if pressed"...
Actually it's a favorite among body builders who pay good money for it.

There are clubs and societies of lactating women who donate/give and sell their breastmilk for the public at large.

It's got a bit of a shady past so a person needs to be careful.

But yeah...they exist.
 

Mii

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2019
2,082
1,330
113
#18
Actually it's a favorite among body builders who pay good money for it.

There are clubs and societies of lactating women who donate/give and sell their breastmilk for the public at large.

It's got a bit of a shady past so a person needs to be careful.

But yeah...they exist.
Yeah I saw one article alluding to that but I don't want to apprise myself of more than I "need" to know. I'm sure I'll find out enough whenever/if ever I have children.

I presume it's much more expensive than other methods of homemade formula though? I just mention it because it came to mind as something I haven't heard mentioned outside of antiquity.
 

Hazelelponi

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2019
609
397
63
USA
#19
Our children were raised on evaporated milk. They also received a daily "baby" vitamin supplement. The supplement was provided by a prescription.

Formulas have replaced the above. I don't know if they even make the "baby" vitamin supplement any more.
You talking about the good stuff that babies love to hate?

Yes, they still have that for babies... My grandkids used it.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
#20
the baby formula scare is another example of why the government should stay the heck out of business. the WIC program. Any thing the government says they will 'give' is tainted some how