The
It’s a pathway that won’t work for every formula-fed baby, especially those with special dietary needs, and it comes with challenges because the country's dozens of nonprofit milk banks prioritize feeding medically fragile infants. The organizations collect milk from mothers and process it, including through pasteurization, then work with hospitals to distribute it.
The shortage stemmed from a safety recall and supply disruptions and has captured national attention with panicked parents looking to swap and buy formula online and President
“There’s nothing more urgent we’re working on than that right now,” he said.
The administration also said Friday that formula maker
At the Mothers’ Milk
“It’s interesting the first sort of response that we got was from potential donors — so people responding to the formula shortage with sort of an amazing, compassionate response of how can I be part of the solution?" she said.
Youngblood was talking about people like
“I thought 18 gallons was sufficient for one person," she said. "If I hadn’t heard of the shortage, I wouldn’t be going through the process again, just because I have three kids and it’s a little chaotic around here.”
She has pledged at least 150 ounces of her milk, but said she expects to give much more than that.
“I’m vey blessed with being able to produce milk, so I just felt I needed to do something,” she said.
She said in the past she has shipped her frozen milk in special containers to
It's not just donors, though. Parents desperately seeking nutrition for their babies are pursuing milk banks as well.
At the
Groff called the shortage a “crisis” and said it's not as simple as parents just supplementing with donated human milk, because the vast majority of those supplies are earmarked for babies with medical conditions.
“If people can donate, now would be the time because when we have more of an inventory we can look beyond the medically fragile," she said.
Dr.
“We’re here for some short-term gap filling. We’re here for the medically fragile kids, and we’re here for the NICU babies,” she said.
Parents are also turning to online breastmilk-swapping forums to meet their babies' needs.
Kastelein stopped breastfeeding after getting recurring infections, but tried to begin re-lactating in March after the formula recall, with little success.
“Emerson is allergic to most of the formulas, so it’s been difficult to find something he’s not allergic to,” she said.
In stepped
“She asked a bunch of questions — what medications I’m taking, if any, that kind of thing,” Breton said. “So we decided, ‘OK, that’s perfect.’ So, she comes by every couple weeks and picks up the milk I’ve been saving for her.”
“I do feel helpful,” she added. “It’s exciting and rewarding that I can give to a mom that can’t find what she’s looking for, and if her son can’t take formula, I mean, it’s scary.
“We want to make sure that these moms are being as safe as they can and meeting the needs of their infant, so consulting with their health-care provider on how to meet those needs is the best way to go,” she said.
The shortage creates difficulties particularly for lower-income families after the recall by formula maker
On Friday, Agriculture Secretary
The Biden administration said it's working with states to make it easier for WIC recipients to buy different sizes of formula that their benefits might not currently cover.
The company would begin by producing EleCare, Alimentum and metabolic formulas and then start production of Similac and other formulas. Once production begins, it would take six to eight weeks for the formula to be available on shelves.
On Tuesday, the FDA said it was working with
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission., source