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Home › Articles › Issues for Mom › Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its Risks

Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its Risks

The Case of the Virgin Gut

By Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC

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The Case for the Virgin Gut-Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its RisksI have been a mother for 26 years. When my first daughter was born, I knew little about breastfeeding except that I wanted to "try" to be successful. I knew it was best. I planned on nursing for six weeks to give her a good start.

She was born in Riverview Hospital in New Jersey in 1976. I waited impatiently to be allowed to see her every four hours for nursing. She arrived in my room with a little bottle of glucose water on board in her crib. The nurses encouraged me to fill her up with sugar water after each nursing, because my milk was not enough. Between nursings, she received formula in the nursery, because she was hungry and the hospital would only bring her out at certain times. During visiting hours, no babies came out.

Even though I am a nurse, I did not know enough about breastfeeding to object to this practice. My baby became jaundiced (which I know now is prolonged by giving water), and we stayed in the hospital for five long days. This was after a totally unmedicated birth. When we went home, I was gifted with cases of water and formula to feed her ad lib. Fortunately, my pediatrician advised me not to give either to her if I wanted to be successful with breastfeeding. Good advice. I let it all expire in my kitchen pantry and later threw it away. (Thank you Dr. David Ohmart, wherever you are!)

After she was a few months old, I was talking to another breastfeeding mother at a La Leche League meeting. She proudly stated that her son still had his "virgin gut." I asked her what that meant. She said he had never had anything in his stomach besides breast milk. She said that because of that, he would be healthier and less likely to have allergies. I was confused and a little doubtful, but her words stuck with me.


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Re: Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its Risks by Megan on 10/08/2009 12:39PM

Very dissappointing to see an add for Nestlebaby club where they give away cupons and promote their formula-when this article makes it clear that formula is not a good food choice for babies.

Re: Even the Occasional Bottle of Formula Has Its Risks by Megan on 10/08/2009 12:31PM

I wish more health practitioners and parents knew this information.

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