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Haiti Disaster Ignites Breastmilk vs. Formula Debate
Go over and read Tracy Clark-Flory’s excellent post on Salon‘s Broadsheet about whether or not we should be donating baby formula to Haiti. She describes a dust-up via Twitter after calls to donate formula were met with pleas not to.
Tweeted a Long Beach, Calif., doula and a Canadian breastfeeding activist respectively: “Please don’t send powdered formula to Haiti!” and “PLEASE! don’t send formula to Haiti! The women&children shouldn’t be victimised twice! Breastfeeding during emergencies is VITAL to health.”
Those donating formula want, of course, to get babies fed. The no-formula crowd argue breast is best — and also, there’s no reliably clean water with which to make the formula, clean the bottles, etc.
Clark-Flory tore into the research and eventually called UNICEF and here is what she concluded: not every kid will have access to a lactating woman, be it the child’s mother or someone acting as wet nurse. Those without access to breastmilk need formula — the ready-to-feed (super expensive!) kind.
But before you pack up a shipment, also note: distributors will want to know where it came from, that it’s safe, not expired, etc., etc., and as good as your intentions are to buy and send the stuff, it’s not the ideal way to help.
What is? Money. So that formula you wanted to send? Just take what you would have paid, add in the postage and donate the amount. Or double it and donate it. Everyone wants to help. Money helps the most.
Here are six ways to help.
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53 Comments
[...] Haiti Disaster Ignites Breast vs. Formula Debate [...]
FDA: No BPA Ban, But Avoid It Anyway | Strollerderby commented on Jan 16 10 at 3:01 pm[...] has weighed in on the breastmilk vs. formula debate going on in the blogosphere about how best to help Haitian [...]
UNICEF Settles Breast vs. Bottle Debate For Haiti Donations | Strollerderby commented on Jan 23 10 at 10:29 am[...] me is Madeline Holler, the woman who first told me what a CSA was. Also on the agenda is how the earthquake in Haiti ignited the breastmilk vs. formula debate; it certainly ignited our commenters when Madeline wrote about it. Then, at 1pm EST/10am PST, we [...]
Today is Apple Tablet Day [Morning News] | Strollerderby commented on Jan 27 10 at 9:01 am[...] need for breast milk for both infants and toddlers is immense. UNICEF stresses that donations of infant formula or powdered milk are NOT needed, and in fact would only create problems for the overworked aid workers in Haiti, since they require [...]
Haiti Now Accepting Breast Milk Donations | Strollerderby commented on Jan 29 10 at 9:26 am[...] from Haiti Disaster Ignites Breastmilk vs. Formula Debate SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Former NBA Player Will Not Give Money To Haiti [Morning News]“, url: [...]
Former NBA Player Will Not Give Money To Haiti [Morning News] | Strollerderby commented on Jan 29 10 at 10:53 am[...] Settles Breast Vs. Bottle Debate For Haiti Donations: UNICEF has weighed in on the breastmilk vs. formula debate going on in the blogosphere about how best to help Haitian babies. The answer: do not send [...]
(Slightly More Than) Weekly Link Round-up — ChildWild commented on Jan 30 10 at 10:03 am[...] that Haiti did not ask for and can’t use breast milk donations. What Haiti actually needs is cold hard cash – whatever money you can give is money they can use. However, all these breast milk shenanigans got [...]
Want to donate breast milk? | Pregnancy & Baby Blog commented on Jan 30 10 at 3:16 pm[...] Here’s an interesting twist in the battle between breastmilk and formula, staging ground: Haiti. [...]
Reservist Pumps Milk for Haiti’s Injured Babies | Strollerderby commented on Feb 01 10 at 3:22 pmAmy Kuras commented on Jan 15 10 at 5:14 pmGREAT post, Madeline. Breastfeeding activists do themselves no favors when they so entirely miss the point like that. Of course it would be ideal for children to get breastmilk, but that’s not always possible, soooo….those kids without access to their own mother or a generous lactating woman are SOL and can starve before they get formula? Please.
But you make the best point of all–cash helps most.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jan 15 10 at 5:37 pmYou gotta be kidding me. I had this argument with a lactation consultant after Katrina. My bottom line is this: you want the moms to breastfeed in (fill in devastated area)? Get on a plane and go play wet nurse yourself.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jan 15 10 at 5:38 pmI should have said “you want the babies to have breastmilk in (devastated area)”
Lee commented on Jan 15 10 at 7:57 pmIn a catastrophy such as this it is likely that many infants have been orphaned. Formula may be a distant second to mother’s milk in any third world country but saving these children should be the primary concern.
GP commented on Jan 15 10 at 8:13 pmSaving children is of course everyone’s foremost concern (or should be). HOWEVER, those mothers who are still with their babies and are already breastfeeding should absolutely continue to do so and should not be encouraged to use formula or to supplement. The risk of them decreasing their supply of milk is problematic. When their supply runs out, then what will they do when their donated formula runs out? It’s not particularly stressful to breastfeed and reading the AAP info will support that women can lactate under extreme conditions. After all, WE WERE MEANT TO DO SO. Americans need to get over it. It’s a real problem when women in developing countries are led astray. Fine if you in the West want to have your jobby job and are too busy or whatever to be bothered, but plenty of others can handle breastfeeding just fine. My fear would be that these women may not be educated enough about nutrition and breastfeeding to understand what will happen if they stop breastfeeding and start using formula, and random aid workers, as honorable as their work may be, may not be knowledgeable on the subject either.
jennifer commented on Jan 15 10 at 8:27 pmThis just shows how isolated some people’s lives are. They hang out in their mommy groups, talking nonstop about how critical breastfeeding is for brain development/language/ health whathaveyou, and how they simply must buy a $600 stroller (for use when they are not carrying the baby, of course) to prevent spine compaction or some bs. They have gone so far beyond meeting an infant’s basic survival needs that they need to continually make up things to do for their babies in order to give their life purpose.
Reality check: Mom, auntie, and numerous other potential stand-ins to breastfeed infants in Haiti are the people you’ve undoubtedly seen in those pictures of somebody’s foot sticking out sandwiched between a bed and what was the ceiling of the building. They’re dead. Gone. Somebody found the baby in a pile of rubble, crying hysterically out of fear and hunger. That the baby even makes it from there to a place where it can receive nourishment of any type is a miracle in itself. Once there, do these people expect them to continue crying until a lactating woman can be helicoptered in? Seriously – what do they think is the alternative in this scenario???
Thank you for reinterating that money is most critical at this point. Money which can be used, as you also mentioned, to buy pre-made formula that does not need to be mixed with water.
Prayers to all those orphaned children, that they may find solace in somebody’s arms and food to strengthen them.
GP commented on Jan 15 10 at 8:29 pmAnd, why would anyone be so silly to actually send goods their on their own, anyway? It should be obvious that donating money is the way to go…The organizations that deal with this kind of thing know what to do in terms of getting supplies and distributing them more than random individuals…
GP commented on Jan 15 10 at 8:39 pmJust to be clear…I am not at all against formula being given to babies in need. I *am* against the ignorance on the subject of lactation in those who really should know better and the way American women get so very defensive about it all.
Sara commented on Jan 15 10 at 8:52 pmThat’s so stupid. The babies that are already formula fed aren’t going to miraculously be able to be fed breastmilk.
GP commented on Jan 15 10 at 8:58 pmWhat does that even mean?
Lauren commented on Jan 15 10 at 9:19 pmEven if a child hasn’t been orphaned, there is a severe lack of water in the area. Dehydrated women have trouble breastfeeding. If it’s between a child eating formula or starving, formula is the obvious way to go.
GP commented on Jan 15 10 at 9:23 pmDid any of you people even *read* the post of the woman on Salon who did the “research”? She wrote “A common refrain is that women are too weak or stressed during a major crisis to produce milk, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, that’s bunk. All but the most extremely malnourished mothers are generally still able to lactate; and most women are fully capable of breast-feeding under stress, so long as they have the “appropriate support and guidance.” Plus, a baby’s suckling actually releases hormones in the mother that relieve her stress level.”
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jan 15 10 at 9:45 pmWhat would be the “appropriate support and guidance” in a situation such as this? Seriously? You’re going to quote the stress relieving hormones of breastfeeding when humans are surrounded by THIS level of death and destruction? That’s some bubble you live in.
GP commented on Jan 15 10 at 10:53 pmSorry, I shouldn’t get so uppity. It’s just frustrating that there is so much misinformation about something so basic. Anyway, I hope the aid people are giving does alot of good to all who need it.
Laure68 commented on Jan 15 10 at 11:30 pmI totally agree with Jennifer’s post, especially “They have gone so far beyond meeting an infant’s basic survival needs that they need to continually make up things to do for their babies in order to give their life purpose.” I really believe this, that some people are so privileged and they need something to feel bad about, so they make stuff up. When you see something like the tragedy in Haiti, it makes you realize how lucky we really are.
That being said, I also agree that people just need to send money right now, and let the aid organization buy what they need.
Lia commented on Jan 15 10 at 11:52 pmI understand what GP is saying. Wherever possible, breastfeeding mothers should continue to breastfeed. The vast majority of lactating women can continue to nurse in the face of disaster. They should be encouraged to do and reassured that they are providing the best for their child. Where breastfeeding is not possible, ready-made formula should be made available. The mantra of most breast feeding organizations is ‘feed the baby first’ and determine effective breastfeeding management second. Only the vocal minority believe otherwise.
Spartic commented on Jan 16 10 at 12:53 amGP you completely miss the point, go spread your ignorance and superior attitude somewhere else. I’m sure there’s a LLL meeting somewhere that needs another smug mother.
LindaLou commented on Jan 16 10 at 2:15 amComments Oh, brother! This isn’t a breastfeeding vs. formula feeding debate. They. Don’t. Have. Access. To. Clean. Water. To. Mix. Formula.
Giant Panda commented on Jan 16 10 at 7:51 amSomeone, somewhere, should put together a super team of lactating disaster response officers, that can be flown in to breastfeed all the starving babies. Would that make everyone happy? I’ll be the first volunteer :)
GP commented on Jan 16 10 at 8:05 amSpartic, by the way, I don’t really connect with LLL people, so don’t speak of which you don’t know.
GP commented on Jan 16 10 at 8:48 amAnd it’s less about babies getting breastmilk (ie, wetnurses, etc.) than the mothers who ARE ALREADY BREASTFEEDING being educated, supported, and encouraged to keep up what they are doing…which is ultimately more empowering. Nobody had addressed the question of what they’re going to do when the donated formula runs out…which it will.
GP commented on Jan 16 10 at 8:56 amFURTHERMORE…food is going to be scare there for a while once they get all the stuff cleaned up. Those mothers who are breasfeeding should ABSOULTELY be encouraged to keep it up and not be tricked into using formula, as they will then, if they keep the breastfeeding up, be able to provide their children with better nutrition for YEARS to come…yes, maybe when foods supplies are short, those babies can get by on breastmilk and minimal food even when they are 18 months, 2 years and beyond. But BFing that long, well, that’s unheard of, right? Please humble yourselves before you get all up in arms when someone challenges YOUR limited, Western view.
Sara commented on Jan 16 10 at 10:24 amI highly doubt anyone is out to TRICK these women. If there isn’t enough formula then they’re certainly not going to be giving it to women who don’t need it.
But to not send formula is to cause the orphaned and already formula fed babies to DIE or be malnurished. Although I guess that’s better than getting formula though. Because it’s EVIL.
GP commented on Jan 16 10 at 11:40 amAs I already stated, I am not against sending formula (pre-mixed, ready to use). However, I am against misinformed statements such as this “My bottom line is this: you want the moms to breastfeed in (fill in devastated area)? Get on a plane and go play wet nurse yourself.” Because the moms that are breastfeeding should keep doing it and, as I also said, its at least as much about the moms CONTINUING to breastfeed than it is about the babies getting breastmilk, so wetnursing while already breastfeeding moms sit there isn’t the answer. Yes, yes, yes, give the orphans formula. I would add, though, that we have seen in past crises, those moms who are breastfeeding, taking orphaned babies under their wing and breastfeeding them, too.
a. commented on Jan 16 10 at 12:24 pm“want to have your jobby job”? yes, earning money to pay rent and pay for food for one’s kid is totally a luxurious indulgence. (i know that this is off topic, but, wow is GP needlessly obnoxious.)
Mama Em commented on Jan 16 10 at 8:21 pm@Sara – are you high? No one is suggesting babies should die rather than be fed formula.
Voice of Reason commented on Jan 16 10 at 11:41 pmI really hope everyone took the time make a donation in support of the relief effort in Haiti before getting embroiled in this bizarre debate.
zaksmom commented on Jan 17 10 at 1:36 amA case could be made for donated milk being of greater utility in a disaster- it keeps longer, need not be diluted with clean water, not to mention immune system advantages. However, as much as I am in favor of human babies getting human milk whenever possible, until we can devise a way to quickly ship donated milk, formula is a better option than nothing. And regarding the water issue: it may well be better to give water to a lactating woman than to give her formula that must be diluted, as her body can handle pathogens better. What is needed is what best meets the needs of Haitians, and that would be a combination of water for all, but especially lactating women, formula for babies who need it, and perhaps a way to get donor milk, especially for sick babies. This debate isn’t bizarre- but it is taking time away from what we need to be doing- that is, everything we can to help. There are relief organizations asking for volunteers, and retailers (including myself) who are donating sales proceeds.
Bean's Mom commented on Jan 17 10 at 7:53 ama.: GP’s dismissive comment about “jobby job” didn’t escape my notice either. Perhaps GP feels so insecure about her own choices in life that she needs to put down women who made different choices? She tells another poster, Spartic, “don’t speak of which you don’t know,” but she herself succumbs to overgeneralizations when she suggests that women who work are formula feeders who are just putting their own needs before that of their own children. I am a working mom, and guess what, I nursed my child until she was more than two-and-a-half years old. I decided to go back to work not because I wanted to be away from my child, but because I wanted to be a good role model for my daughter, in light that I came from a home where my own mother was a very unhappy and bitter stay-at home mom. My husband also has a much more flexible job that allows him to stay at home, so it made more sense for him to be the primary caretaker. But imagine that, a stay-at-home father, that’s probably a little too much for GP’s rigid view of how the world should be. Anyway, I know it’s off topic, but I was so irked that I had to respond.
GP commented on Jan 17 10 at 8:39 amso, I wasn’t referring to you, then, Bean’s Mom…
or women who *have* to work…
believe it or not, there is a class of women out there who don’t have to work to support their families, but do so anyway, having their little ones, still, who are then too busy to breastfeed, too busy to pump, even, and get all up in arms when the idea of formula is challenged…
everyone can really, truly, do what they want…I really, truly, don’t care and I am very happy with my choices…otherwise, I would change them…what I can’t abide is misinformation and stupidity
L commented on Jan 17 10 at 2:33 pmGP-if you don’t care what others choose, why do you post so many comments and get so defensive about your choices?
Tanpopo commented on Jan 17 10 at 4:04 pmIt makes a lot of sense to have this debate when we are talking about sending aide to developing nations. Breast milk is better because you don’t need to mix it with clean water, it’s easier to make sure that the baby is getting the right amount of nutrition, and the immune system advantages. In a case like this, however, whatever the disaster relief people think that they need I want to try and send them. I mean, worst case scenario several babies lives are saved by having formula because their mothers are dead and a couple babies switch from breastfeeding to formula. The bad really doesn’t outweigh the good there…
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jan 17 10 at 11:39 pmMisinformed like having no concept of what it is to live in that kind of desperate, wrenching poverty? Misinformed like thinking breastfeeding even ranks among a population in such dire straits that they are forced to sell their children into indentured servitude because they don’t have the money to take care of them? Stupid like arguing over choices as though these people HAD THE LUXURY OF THEM even before the most devastating of the several natural disasters they’ve endured in the past three years hit? Misinformed and stupid? You ought to change your handle, GP, because your premises and presumptions are so out of line with reality, you are *epitomizing* what you’re accusing others of.
GP commented on Jan 18 10 at 9:23 amBreastfeeding is not a luxury. That someone would think it is is what is so crazy to me. Your level of misunderstanding is baffling, but sadly probably not uncommon. I don’t know why I keep coming back to these discussions. I am not defensive about my choices, don’t know why anyone would say that. If anything I am way too proud of my choices, I suppose. I feel bad the the convo has turned toward this, so I hereby will refrain from posting further. And, in case any of you shrews are wondering, I *did* give to Haiti…and sponsor a child, too, outside of any crisis situation.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jan 18 10 at 12:50 pmStay classy, GP.
L commented on Jan 18 10 at 7:52 pmIt is articles like this that caused me an immense amount of stress when I breastfed my baby for 7 months and struggled every single one of those days with milk supply. There is so much guilt with breastfeeding it is incredible. If these babies are even lucky enough to have mothers who are alive, those mothers have not had any liquids for days and days..really? How much milk are they going to be able to produce? Why should babies die so breastfeeding activists can prove a point. SO RIDICULOUS
Skip Hop commented on Jan 18 10 at 8:28 pmWe at Skip Hop donated $10K in formula to aid in the relief efforts in Haiti – the shipment gets there this week, thanks to great organizations like PIH.org. This is enough formula to feed well over 100 starving infants for over a month. These are desperate times and there are many orphaned babies. There’s no time to find a wet-nurse. They need nourishment now. Let’s all save the debate for later and agree that a fed baby is better than a starving one. I have been surprised by some of the messages we received saying that we should never donate formula; these babies don’t have the luxury of choice.
Ginny commented on Jan 18 10 at 10:14 pmWow I didnt expect to find what I’m reading here, I’m baffled by all the negativity on this subject. If I were still nursing and had someone to watch my children I wouldve taken one of the last flights out to Haiti before they blocked them and I would provided these children in anyway possible. Really, I’m still baffled by all this negative comments here, what if the tables were turned?
the grumbles commented on Jan 19 10 at 11:21 amI think the issue with sending formula is that there is NO CLEAN WATER to mix it with! If it’s pre-mixed of if you’re also providing water, send away. The important thing is keeping everybody alive and fed, we can fight about ‘fed what’ later.
BestforBabes commented on Jan 19 10 at 5:00 pmActually, Babble is the only one igniting the breastmilk vs. formula debate, and it is really counter-productive. We would be very grateful if you would use your considerable influence to reassure and educate, instead of fostering negativity and misinformation. Thank you.
Bettina Forbes
President & Co-Founder
The Best for Babes Foundation
alix commented on Jan 19 10 at 11:39 pmI am all for breastfeeding… I think breastmilk is healthier than formula BUT these babies don’t have a nursing mother around, their mom IS DEAD and the baby is STARVING, in this case, I have all these formula samples which were mailed to me, that I will not ever use, why on earth shouldn’t I send it to an orphanage or give to red cross? I feel it would be helpful!!
TG commented on Jan 20 10 at 9:34 pmAfter the tsunami in SE Asia, lots of formula was donated. Women who had been Breastfeeding their babies and could have continued with support, actually turned to formula feeding in droves, because of free donated formula. Then the free stuff ends and they are unable to continue to buy it for their baby. They also live in conditions (after a disaster) where it can be very difficult to keep bottles and formula hygenic.
By all means, donate money so that the aid organisations can buy what is appropriate. This will include formula for the babies who really need it. That’s fine. But the point is, for people, organisations, and governments NOT to send lots of formula that will be distributed indiscriminately, and actually cause women to stop breastfeeding. This will more risks for babies that are being breastfed by their mothers now.
Voice of Reason commented on Jan 21 10 at 6:11 pmThank you TG for posting an informative, researched response without calling us shrews.
We donated cash and I have every faith that the aid organization we donated to will know exactly what to do with it.
Eva DeHart commented on Aug 28 10 at 9:55 pmComments First you steal a photo from our website and then use our plea for help to discourage helping us and get you money. Not nice.
atmomiran commented on Oct 22 10 at 7:44 amWhat is happening in Haiti reminds many natural disasters that happened in my country (Indonesia). Instructions for emergency response for countries that are in natural disaster-prone zones like Haiti and Indonesia is required. So as to minimize casualties.
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