The History (and Future) of Baby Formula

Aug 30

Hey mamas! We are big supporters of breastfeeding, but we know that it is not an option for everyone. That being the case, we wanted to give you a little history deep dive about baby formula, how it became so popular, & what to look for when choosing baby formula.

Why did formula become such a big thing?

The unfortunate truth is that some mama’s are not able to make enough milk, or any milk, to feed their babies. Before formula, this poor or lack of milk production was a huge problem, because newborns have immature digestive systems that cannot tolerate much more than breast milk. One solution was wet nurses, lactating women who would nurse the babies of others. If this wasn’t available, babies were given milk from other mammals, like cows and goats, but this was not always safe. Some babies were also fed liquid foods, such as potliquor. This, however, was dangerous, because of the infant's immature digestive system, and the risk of illness associated with an improper diet and malnutrition.

The Creation of Baby Formula

In the 1860s, a chemist, Justus Von Leibig, created the first baby formula (citation). Eventually, the formula was refined, and soon powdered milk formulas could be found in every grocer. This was important, because in the 1960s more women began entering the workforce which meant that they’d be away from their babies and unable to feed on demand. In the 1960s, the work environment wasn't supportive of breastfeeding. There were no political or systematic supports in place to allow mothers to breastfeed. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for a woman to lose her job because of being pregnant. Many of the laws in place now, to support mother's, like maternity leave, and time for pumping milk, are new. In fact, in the past, there were laws in place to prevent pregnant women from working too much, because "women were frail," and they wanted to preserve the species ( insert eye roll ) (citation). So, as more mothers entered the workforce, baby formula became a necessity, and a lifesaver, allowing women to work and help support their families.

The Shady History of Formula

There is a shady history in the baby formula industry. They’ve tried to convince mamas, doctors and pediatricians, and the medical community as a whole, that formula is equal to, if not better than breast milk. They have been quite successful in this effort. The problem is that it isn’t true. The fact is breast milk is superior to formula, for many reasons, some of which you can read about here ,and here, Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org).

Formula feeds babies, so what is the big deal? The big deal is that formula companies went to poor countries, and tricked the mothers into believing that formula was superior to breast milk. These mothers, wanting to do what’s best for their children, would switch from breastfeeding to formula. When they could no longer afford the formula (poor countries, remember), they would attempt to return to breastfeeding, but they had lost their milk supply. Then, in order to feed their children, they had to find ways to pay for formula or make the formula stretch (like watering it down, which is not a good idea). If they couldn’t afford formula, then they had to resort to other means for feeding their children. Formula companies also targeted black and indigenous women, 2 groups in the US that now have the lowest breastfeeding rates in the country Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding Initiation ─ United States, 2019 | MMWR (cdc.gov). All of this could have been avoided by simply encouraging those who could, to breastfeed, and regulating marketing from formula companies.

Another problem, in nations with less economic resources is a lack of access to clean, running water. This means that the sterilization of the bottles and the use of clean and sanitary water to make formula was not always possible. Not only were the babies receiving less nutrition, they were also at risk of exposure to toxins due to unclean drinking water and bottles. When you add that to the fact that the illness fighting components in breast milk were no longer available to these children, then it becomes clear that choosing formula, instead of breast milk, may have put these children’s lives at risk! Please know that these companies knew EXACTLY what they were doing. Even now, they send unsolicited formula samples through the mail, and send marketing through direct messages to pregnant and new mothers on social media. Yes, they are sliding into your DMs. Why? Why would a company that claims to care about babies do all of that? We’ll let you come to your own conclusions.

Other shady things formula companies have done include:

sending formula reps dressed in nursing uniforms to hospitals to give samples to new moms
incentivizing medical professionals to give samples and brochures to new/pregnant moms
using deceptive wording on the labels and advertisements for formula to make people think that formula is virtually the same as breast milk.
These companies know that if a mama starts formula early, it will disrupt her ability to breastfeed her baby. The mama could lose her breast milk, and become dependent on baby formula to feed her child.

Not all formula companies are shady, so do your research. Invest your dollars in companies that deserve your money, avoiding shady companies when you can. Your dollars are votes that say “yes, I want to support your good products and business practices,” and “no, I don’t support your shady business.”

When breast milk is dangerous and formula a blessing?

When a baby is truly not gaining enough weight, breastfeeding can become dangerous. This is a term called “Failure to Thrive”. Mamas have to know the signs of failure to thrive , and seek additional support to ensure that their baby gets enough nourishment. Some mothers will switch to baby formula. We believe that rather than switching over completely, it’s better to supplement with baby formula. This allows baby to continue reaping the benefits of breastfeeding, while still being fed enough. When you supplement breastmilk with formula you can still enjoy the bonding moments of nursing without worrying if baby has gotten enough nutrients.

When mom takes medications, recreational drugs, or drinks excessive alcohol, breastfeeding is not a good good option. These chemicals can be transferred to baby via breast milk. This is not safe, and places baby’s life at risk. This is also an issue if mama has an illness that can be transmitted through breast milk, like HIV.

Mom’s diet can impact how nutrient-rich the breastmilk is. When mom has a terrible diet, and we mean terrible, then breast milk may not be as nutritionally sound. It is important that a breastfeeding mom has a nutritious (not perfect) diet, so that the breast milk contains the nutrients needed for baby to thrive. It’s a good idea to take a multivitamin and drink plenty of water, though you should check with your lactation consultant and/or doctor for recommendations on how to nourish yourself for breastfeeding.

This article is a great resource for the benefits of breastfeeding, and the contraindications Breastfeeding Overview (aap.org).

So, should you use formula or breastfeed?

Using formula isn’t a bad thing, and you shouldn’t feel bad about using it. A good number of us born in the 1970s to early 2000s were fed formula, and the product has improved to be more similar to breast milk since then. At Holistic Brown Mamas, breast milk is our number 1 choice, but we do not know you and we do not know your life. What we do know is that you are the mama. That means you decide. Whether you choose formula or breast milk or both, you know what’s best for you and your family.

~ Your Holistic Brown Mamas

Sarah & Cece