I am not making this up. Apparently, Similac samples that were mass mailed to our address (and thrown out by me) were among the tainted formula products. If you or anyone you know is formula feeding a baby, please read this article and visit the manufacturer's web site to check the lot numbers of your formula containers and for information on how to get beetle-free Similac or a refund on your tainted formula.
I wonder what kind of beetle got into the formula? All they say is that it's a "common small beetle." So, what -- like the Japanese beetles that attack my crape myrtle trees every summer?Okay, I know that breast vs. bottle is a personal decision, and I know breastfeeding doesn't work for everyone. But the only way beetles or beetle larvae could get into breastmilk would be if the mom deliberately ate bugs. I'm just saying... I think this is as good a time as any to unveil:
Rebecca's Top Ten Reasons Why Breast Is Best:
10. Breastfeeding mothers burn an extra 600 calories a day just by relaxing and cuddling with their babies. That's the equivalent of 2 hours of aerobic exercise per day. There's no easier way to lose that extra pregnancy weight.
9. Breastfeeding mothers never have to go home because they ran out of formula and it's time to feed the baby.
8. Formula feeding a baby for the first year of life costs an estimated $1500-$2000, not including the cost of bottles, nipples, sterilizing equipment, etc. That means breastfeeding moms get to spend an extra $2000 on cute little baby outfits, decorating the nursery, manicures, or whatever else makes them feel as special as they are.
6. Breastfed babies don't get sick as often as formula fed babies because their mothers' antibodies pass directly into the breastmilk, helping the babies fight off the exact germs they are exposed to in real time.
5. Breastmilk is always ready to go, at the perfect temperature, and requires no preparation. No fumbling around a dark kitchen at 3 AM, spilling powdered formula all over the counter, accidentally overheating the formula and burning the baby.
4. Spitup and baby poop from formula fed babies stains those cute little outfits, but breastmilk poop and spitup comes right out in the wash every time.
3. Once you and your baby get the hang of it, breastfeeding is really, really EASY, and you don't need to have your boobs out on public display, either. You can feed your baby in church or in a crowded concert hall, and if you choose your outfit carefully, no one will even know. You can practically feed your baby in your sleep. All the other new parents may be exhausted and bleary-eyed, complaining about how little sleep they are getting, and you will be all bright-eyed and cheerful, wondering what all the fuss is about.
2. Breastfeeding is better for the environment. Formula feeding all of the babies in the United States for one year requires 86,000 tons of tin to produce 550 million cans, plus the paper for the labels, the energy wasted in production, and the pollution created transporting all of that formula to market.
1. But the number one reason why breast is best has to be that there's NO BEETLE LARVAE IN BREASTMILK!
If you are pregnant now and hoping to breastfeed your baby, I highly recommend that you read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from the La Leche League before your baby is born. Most hospital nurses don't know enough about breastfeeding to help you if you have trouble getting the baby latched on correctly in the beginning, and getting off to a good start is really important (nursing a baby isn't supposed to hurt, so if you are experiencing a lot of soreness you should get help from a lactation consultant or from a friend who has been there and done that before). Get yourself a little support network of moms you know who are breastfeeding successfully or who have breastfed successfully in the past. If you don't know anyone else who is breastfeeding, you can contact your local La Leche League group to connect with other breastfeeding moms near you.
