Baby nearly drowned by watered-down formula ("pro-lifers" created this economic crisis, mind you)

[FLAprogressive]

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/12/baby-nearly-dro.html

The tough economy forced a young mother to stretch her infant formula supply by watering it down, nearly killing her baby.

The 5-month-old boy was rushed to the pediatric intensive care unit at University Community Hospital over the weekend after his mother diluted his infant formula, causing "water intoxication" that could have drowned the child. Sodium treatments and drugs saved the child's life, UCH hospital officials said.

The baby was moved to the recovery floor of the hospital's pediatric care center today, and his prognosis is good. UCH Chief of Pediatrics James Orlowski reminded parents to never dilute formula with water, because babies can literally drown from the water intake.

UCH officials didn't release the mother's name until a 3 p.m. press conference, where she is expected to speak publicly and warn parents about watering down formulas. She told hospital officials the cost of formula, at up to $15 per can, combined with her personal economic situation, caused her
to dilute the liquid without knowing how harmful water can be to newborns.

---------

Remember....pro-lifers created this economic crisis....now it's killing babies.

[slackmaster]

1. It's hard to fix stupid

This mom obviously has a severe case of it.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Seriously.

WIC.

[FLAprogressive]

3. While she is quite stupid for it --- think of the conditions that caused her to do it. n/t

[slackmaster]

7. The article says nothing other than she thought the formula was expensive

We really don't know what degree of hardship she is facing. It's easy to speculate that she is poor and has a hard time coming up with money for things like baby formula, and that may be the case, but for all we know she could be in OK financial condition but just stingy.

We do know she doesn't know jack shit about nutrition or how to follow simple written instructions.

[Tempest]

21. The article says more than that

And in the same sentence:

combined with her personal economic situation

How did you miss that?

[slackmaster]

59. I didn't miss it, but that statement has zero information content

It could just be a lame excuse for someone who did a poor job of setting priorities.

[SoCalDem]

5. Breastfeeding is the obvious solution for many, if not most poor mothers.

and yes, I know there are SOME who cannot, but it's rare to find a woman who delivers a child, and fails to produce milk.. Mother Nature knows how to "do this", and has been doing this little miracle forever:)..even lowly mammals in the wild, with NO training, manage to feed their young..

[Cronopio]

18. See reply #16. nt

[SoCalDem]

24. Like I said.. "Some"

I have known MANY women who CHOSE to not breastfeed, even though they had NO time constraints..

there are ALWAYS exceptions..

It's just fortunate that this baby lived..Here's hoping Mom "smartens up" before "something else" happen to this llittle baby:cry:

[Cronopio]

31. The "some" you mention are not as rare as you think.

I've worked for "breastfeeding-friendly" employers and, without exception, the women who have chosen to try to balance the demands of work and breastfeeding found it an almost impossible task over the long term. My wife had to cut back her hours by half just to be able to arrange it, and as freelancers, we're in a fortunate situation in that regard.

From what I've gathered from article, getting Mom to "smarten up" wasn't a problem. I think she just needed some info, or just time away from work to do her homework.

[SoCalDem]

33. The article never mentioned her job(s) or a(n) employer(s)

Also, every hospital I have ever known of, counsels their new Moms, and anyone who is "on assistance", automatically gets a visit from a social worker to tell her about services her baby is eligible for.. But,this is Flkorida...it might be different..

[redstate_democrat]

44. What do you have to do to get on WIC?

Is the mother allowed to work? Can she be married? I understand that on general welfare, a woman cannot be married. I was referring to your post at #6. I don't know how I responded to this particular one.

[SoCalDem]

45. Here in CA, it's based on income

My friend's son & his wife & two kids are on WIC and assistance. They both have jobs..just really shitty part time jobs..:(

[electron_blue]

144. WIC is not as hard to get as food stamps. We have many of our university faculty

qualify, and take, WIC. Including married ones.

[barbtries]

57. i worked and breast fed

three of my children (didn't work with the first until he was weaned) for eight, thirteen, and twelve months. i had a great boss and with the last two, took my baby to work with me for the first 6-7 months of their lives, until they were too mobile for the office.

i was lucky. i also work with a woman who breastfed her children for up to a year, expressing the milk when she was at work, which was a lot.

so, two ways this mother could have gone: WIC, which was mentioned above, the Women Infants Children program that is specifically designed to feed the young, or the breast, which is nature's intended source of food for an infant and is the most perfect way to go.

i feel for this mother but on the other hand a child is a huge responsibility and it is incumbent upon prospective parents to learn about the care and feeding of their children. you have to get a license to catch a fish but people as clueless as this can have children and fail to care for them properly. sad.

[JerseygirlCT]

163. Well, we also need some serious re-adjustment as a society in our

attitudes toward family vis a vis work.

You were fortunate - I BF both of mine, but even with a fairly good work situation the first time, pumping meant standing in a public bathroom stall for 15 minutes twice a day. Maternity leave was 5 weeks off, and even then, I was coming in with baby one day a week before that I think...

We as a culture seem to have this strange, whipsaw attitude toward kids - half bend over backward doting, half keep them out of our way, they don't have any business getting in the way of business... there needs to be a middle ground, I think.

[krabigirl]

72. well, i didn't choose not to, but they do have that right. hate bfing politics...

it's always assumed that a mother didn't try. lol.

[krabigirl]

70. bfing is NOT easily learned, even if its natural.

[gollygee]

71. I needed two visits with a lactation consultation

at $50 a pop to get it going. If she's having trouble affording formula, she certainly wouldn't be able to afford that.

[krabigirl]

75. lol, i needed five. After having a baby in the NICU for a month, used to pumped milk in a bottle.

I just couldn't transition him to the breast. And yeah, I spent a crapload on LCs. I really hate when people assume that if you give formula, you are ignorant. And I agree with you - there's no way she could have afforded that. Even my insurance didn't cover the LC visits.

[JerseygirlCT]

164. No problems with my first. Plenty with my second

You'd have thought an experienced Bf-er would be fine. But it took a solid month to train the little one. Most people would have given up. I had to feed the baby with a syringe of milk that I pumped. (No, I basically didn't sleep).

I finally taught baby, and we bf till 16 months.

But it was work. I needed help, and encouragement. And it was hard to find. Plenty of well-meaning people "encouraged" me - to give it up.

[FedUpWithIt All]

132. My son would have died before he would breastfeed and that is per the opinion of several lactation

consultants. I had already nursed my three older children and we had tried EVERYTHING. I do realize that this behavior in an infant is rare but it does happen.

I really wish he would have breastfed, now more than ever. We decided to feed him Good Start after i could no longer pump and they are having trouble keeping toxic elements out of their products. :eyes:

[onlyadream]

142. I agree about breastfeeding

you save tons of money and it's better for the baby. I got a lot of slack for doing it for my two, but they don't have asthma or any other problems that plague the other side of the family who formula fed. It wasn't easy in the beginning b/c my two were very stubborn and wanted the bottle (the nurses gave that to them at the hospital), but in the end, I was more stubborn.

[Arkansas Granny]

10. I would hesitate to say that without knowing more details. I would be

willing to bet that many of us on this board have done something as inexperienced parents that could have been potentially dangerous for a child.

[slackmaster]

13. You may be right, I am quick to criticize people who do things that seem to ME to be obviously wrong

I don't really know anything about the woman.

[kimmerspixelated]

17. I'm glad you pointed that out.

Ignorance and being ill-informed is different, than just being stupid.

[gollygee]

14. People in desperate financial straits do desperate things

My grandma died because, unknown to use, she was taking medication to keep her from having a stroke half as often as she was supposed to take it in an attempt to save money. It's basically the same thing. "I'll make do with what I can afford and hope everything works out OK."

[NashVegas]

26. Self-delete

Have a lovely afternoon ...

[The Doctor.]

54. 'Desperate' often winds up looking like 'stupid'.

She just needed to feed her baby, and didn't know that her measures were harmful. The worst she can be accused of is ignorance.

[Warpy]

61. She's got a bigger case of "poor," IMO

and don't kid yourself that OB nurses have the time to teach new mothers about much of anything beyond how to hold the baby so its head is supported. There is no way they can cover things like watering down formula because there's no money to pay for it.

[gollygee]

63. Hospitals have had financial problems too

and have had to cut back on staff. So that is probably very true these days. My daughter was born 6 years ago and we probably had more time with them.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

168. Wow. The empathy just OOZES.

[SheilaT]

4. Ummm, breast feeding as an alternative to formula?

I just don't get why so many new mothers assume that giving a kid formula is a good idea in the first place.

[SoCalDem]

6. Unfortunately, very young mothers sometimes prefer formula

because they think it's easier, and if they are on WIC, they get it free, so many think this is the way to go..

Personally, I preferred breastfeeding, because the milk was always there, it really WAS free, and it was always the right temp:)

[CottonBear]

8. The new mothers need money for breast pumps and breast milk storage containers

and the time and place to pump at work and a way to store the milk. The mothers also need breast feeding education and on-going support and the means to schedule the bottle feedings by the babysitters and/or daycare providers.

[gollygee]

15. That's true - most poor women don't have the ability to stay home and need to pump

And there's an expense there, and many daycare providers aren't willing to work with breastmilk, and many employers, especially for people who are working class, aren't willing to give time and space for pumping. :(

[Quantess]

28. Especially when baby formula contains Melamine!

The FDA says a little melamine in the baby formula is acceptable in the USA. Melamine tainted formula has already killed countless babies in China.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4566575

[BrklynLiberal]

37. Too many hospitals and doctors are given free formula, and find it easier

than having to deal with the more time consuming option of teaching and helping the new mother with breastfeeding.
I breastfed my son over the objections of my pediatrician. He said I did not live in a third world country and it was
not necessary. I nursed my son anyway, and he was the healthiest little baby boy you could ever imagine. Even the pediatrician admitted that.
I argued with another doctor about the value of colostrum during the first few days of life, as well
as the other immunities that a mother's milk could pass onto the child.

The nurses in my hospital were thrilled that someone was nursing, as they had done. However, they did not go out of their way to encourage others to do it. The free formula was given to every mother. I was even given some when I left the hospital. I never used it.

Once again, the bottom line rules. The hospitals and doctors get free formula, they push it on the new mothers. At some point you can be sure there is some quid pro quo.

[SheilaT]

53. Thanks for the support.

Frankly, while I try to be understanding that every woman's situation is different, and that I should never judge, I'm quite distressed at the lack of real support for breastfeeding.

I nursed both my sons and they are even now (at 21 and 25) the healthiest kids I know.

Probably the real issue here (referring to the original post) is NOT nursing vs. formula feeding, but ignorance on the part of the mother. Which is quite sad, and in this case nearly tragic.

[BrklynLiberal]

69. You are right. It is the ignorance that is the real problem. There was a story

last year, perhaps, about a woman who was sent home with a new baby and told to breatfeed the baby. She had problems and the baby died. She was charged with murder.

Here.. I found the story. Within it, is another similar story.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9402E7DB103EF936A25750C0A96F958260

Susan Tipograph, Ms. Walrond's lawyer, says that the young mother nursed her son faithfully, not realizing that her supply of breast milk was inadequate. Routine pediatric checkups would have caught the problem, but records show that although Tyler was entitled to such care under Medicaid, efforts to enroll him in that health insurance program for the poor were rebuffed or delayed.

There are more details at the site that reinforce what a tragedy this was, and how it could have been avoided.
There were obvious clues to potential problems complicated by bureaucratic bullshit that delayed the baby getting
Medicaid enrollment.

[krabigirl]

67. well, some of us try and fail at bfing. there's nothing to "get."

[BrklynLiberal]

74. At least you were aware enough to know that your baby was not thriving

on breast milk, and switched the baby to formula. There are cases where the mother/parents are not so aware.


Placing the Blame in an Infant's Death; Mother Faces Trial After Baby Dies From Lack of Breast Milk
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9402E7DB103EF936A25750C0A96F958260

[Dorian Gray]

129. Formula is a fine alternative

for many reasons.

[RubyDuby in GA]

139. Sometimes babies can't take breast milk

I tried to breast feed my little one for 4 months until I had to give up because it was making him miserable. He has a lactose intolerance and needed special formula.

I'm no spring chicken and I know all the info about how breastfeeding is supposed to give your baby a leg up on immunity and all that, but really sometimes it's just not an option.

[canadianbeaver]

9. Boy....I must be really stupid too.....or am I just ignorant.....

I really had no idea this could happen.....I am a woman...but I have never had children...and truthfully I have never heard of this....and I feel really sorry for the mother and child to have to go thru this...having to make choices that should not have to be made in the first place...geesh.

[slackmaster]

11. But you do understand that babies need a certain caloric intake, don't you?

And you do know how to follow simple directions, I am sure.

I feel really sorry for the mother and child to have to go thru this...having to make choices that should not have to be made in the first place...geesh.

We don't know diddly squat about what kind of choices the woman had to make.

[canadianbeaver]

38. Choices made due to her personal economic situation....

those choices??? oh and btw....take a hike slackmaster...with the upmost respect...I sense some anger in your posts...or is it annoyance with having to tell people things they should already know eh..

and I am definately ignorant on this...as no I did not realize babies need a certain caloric intake...as I said...not a mother...so I have never looked into anything of the sort....pardon my ignorance as such as it is....

[Lisa0825]

55. I know what you mean.

Ignore the snark. :pals:

[Quantess]

97. Just to let you know, I understood your post.

:hi:
Most of us aren't usually rude like that.

[LanternWaste]

140. From one ignoramus to another...

From one ignoramus to another... :hi:

Unlike many of our esteemed posters on DU who appear to hold a Masters Degree in "WTF IS Wrong with YOU?", I am confident only of my own ignorance, and that there is simply so much that I don't (and will never) know.

So join feel free to join my apparently tiny minority of ignorant non-mothers who do not hold absolute knowledge of What Everyone Should Know. :P

[gollygee]

65. The baby didn't get sick from getting too skinny

it got sick from "water intoxication". So it's possible the baby looked healthy, weight-wise, which could have caused her to think that watering down the formula was OK.

[ecstatic]

76. Honestly, I didn't know about it either, but I don't have kids

and there are no babies in my immediate family yet... But now that I know I will pass this info along to my sister...who is due next month.

[prayin4rain]

161. i didn't know either n/t

[boozepusher]

12. The economic crisis isn't killing babies,

dumb ass mothers are. Infant formula is available for free through WIC. Then there is the option of breast feeding.

[Cronopio]

16. Gee, maybe she wasn't told about WIC either.

And yes, the economic crisis does have an effect on "the option of breastfeeding". To keep the process of lactation going, a woman has to either breastfeed or pump at least every three hours.

Think about trying to do that while working three jobs, 12 hours a day.

[gollygee]

29. That's a good question

I wonder why she wasn't using WIC. That's exactly why they're there. There is a group of people who have too much money for WIC but not enough to get other expenses together, but it seems like formula would be #1 on the list and those people aren't quite as desperate as those who qualify for services. Also, I think it takes much less economic hardship to qualify for WIC than other services.

[Cronopio]

35. I wonder why she wasn't told about WIC. Would you assume WIC existed if you didn't know?

Why are you holding this woman responsible for not knowing about a program that, in fact, very few people actually do know about?

My wife and I weren't told about it by the hospital when we became parents. All hospitals should be taking the reponsibility to make sure that all parents know that programs like this are available.

[gollygee]

36. Very few people know about WIC?

I was told about WIC in the hospital. It's too bad all hospitals don't give that information out. There was a time though when I would have qualified for food stamps and for some reason it never occurred to me to apply for them.

[Cronopio]

43. Glad your hospital took that responsibility. Mine didn't.

Because the article did not state otherwise, I'm inclined to assume this woman's hospital didn't either, and I'm not going to blame her for that oversight.

Also, I'll amend my comment to say "most people I've met". If it wasn't for the web I wouldn't know about it at all. Maybe it's common knowledge in other circles. But a program like the WIC isn't something I would assume the existence of.

[bobbolink]

41. Because knee-jerk blaming is soooo "progressive"

There are classes in knee-jerk blaming right here.

:(

[gollygee]

46. Wondering what the situation is isn't "knee-jerk blaming"

What's knee-jerk is considering every post that wonders what happened here to be blaming. I just wonder how she didn't know. My hospital told me about WIC and I don't qualify - they tell EVERY new mom about it regardless, and help them get the paperwork together if they need it. I assumed that was standard practice but obviously I was wrong.

[bobbolink]

64. So, go ahead and judge. It obviously makes you feel good.

And makes DU so deliteful for the rest of us.

I'm sure you'll have a field day with my response-in-kind to you, so have at it.

Some of us are just tired of the "I'm soooo much smarter than you" junk.

I"m going to edit this to add.... The next time you're complaining about the U.S. not being able to make peace in the rest of the world, consider this... when you can't even be peaceful around people who are ON YOUR SIDE, then you need to consider your OWN peace-making before pointing fingers at others who like to bomb first and ask questions later.

[gollygee]

68. I'm not judging

I'm wondering what happened. Read the rest of my posts in this thread. I don't judge her. You're jumping to assumptions, which also happens a lot at DU.

[bobbolink]

73. .

:rofl:

[gaspee]

58. Seems to be a trend

round these parts. Wonder why that is so.

[undergroundpanther]

122. Because social darwinism has crept into the left.

You cannot fix social problems with more "individual choices" or "Personal responsibility".

If a mother is poor and waters down the formula somewhere someone did not get the information to her,about WIC or that babies can drown from watered down formula.

It IS a social problem.Social services and the social safety net has been de-funded severely by the right wing,the right wing likes to preach about "personal responsibility" when it comes to poor people, but when the rich fuck up or fuck up scamming people,to the point it fucks up the economy they get billions of taxpayer bucks given to them.Socialism for the rich pigs,but free market sink or swim survival for everyone else.If you are poor you are already disadvantaged struggling to stay above water with lead weights on your legs pulling you down into worse financial stress..

Now, if social services like WIC or mental health clinics/programs,psych survivor orgs/drop ins,other programs for the poor,the homeless,the elderly,pregnant, children, disabled, domestic abuse,rape counseling,aids care,addictions help,medicaid/medicare,food stamps,section 8 housing.etc.Got the massive amounts of money that the IRRESPONSIBLE rich CEO's of the failed banks got,Things for people who need help would not be so fragmented and unknown to those who need help this way.

[boozepusher]

30. There is no excuse

for this. NONE. Help is available, you just have to look for it. If WIC can't help then any church will and if they can't they will find you help. This woman should be held responsible for the neglect of her child.

[Cronopio]

40. "Help is available, you just have to look for it."

It's clear to me that she wasn't informed enough to know that she needed help. During the first 6 months of a child's life, parents are barely getting enough sleep and are barely keeping up with practical demands. They don't have time to research everything that they might not know about.

I only know about WIC through the web. I've never seen billboards or TV ads about it. The people who run WIC are responsible for making their existence known to people who need to know about it. But then, there's the issue of funding ...

[boozepusher]

48. You may be right.

She probably didn't realize she needed help and that what she was doing was very dangerous for her child. She is still responsible for her child's care and well being.

[Cerridwen]

85. Well, since we're pushing outdated gender roles, howabout we blame

the daddy? Why the hell isn't he taking better care of his kid and the kid's mom? WTF is up with that?! Doesn't he know he's the breadwinner? Doesn't he know real men take care of their families?!

Okay, I almost puked typing that outdated shit.

Times are tough. People do what they can to get by. Sometimes that means they can't do the right thing; even those things they know are right. In this case, she had done this with her first child and had no problems. You would know that if you'd read through some links in this thread.

Someone else wrote in this thread that a grand parent cut back on needed medications to save money. People don't go to the doctor or dentist when they should because they can't afford it. People die due to lack of money. Maybe we should make it possible for them to live regardless of their financial worth. I know. Not a very "self-made man" take on this good old US of A. I'm weird that way.

[boozepusher]

98. Did you even read my post?

I acknowledged that she most likely didn't know that what she was doing was a danger to her child. That doesn't absolve her of her responsibility. Your point about the father may not be that far off. I'm willing to bet that the father isn't in the picture and isn't paying child support like he should to help her. You are right real men do take care of their families. Dead beat dad's are scum.

[Cerridwen]

101. Of course I did. It didn't even dawn on you to berate the father until

I pointed it out.

It doesn't sound like he's a deadbeat. It sounds like they are struggling. I don't think either of them needs public censure. What they need is some help until they get on their feet.

She went public with her story so others could learn from her sad mistake. Think about that. She almost lost her child by doing something that she'd done before with no ill effects. Then she was willing to go public.

See post #51 with links for more information.

[boozepusher]

103. The OP stated that the financial crisis

was responsible for this. My point is that the parents are the ones responsible even if they didn't know it was dangerous. They had avenues to turn to if they needed more formula but they decided it was a better idea to ignore the directions on the can. Therefor they are responsible.

I do commend her for going public, it sounds like she is taking responsibility for her actions. The OP on the other hand is just looking for excuses for her.

[Cerridwen]

106. The OP was pointing out that the current financial climate was

brought to us from the party most closely associated with the marketing gimmick called "pro-life." That same party being the one that thinks people should just pick themselves up by their boot-straps without regard to whether or not one has boot-straps, much less boots.

If I read the OP correctly, the idea being that you cannot call yourself "pro-life" then put people in situations in which they are forced to make "choices" which could lead to death. For many people, lack of money means death; as it almost did for this child.

[boozepusher]

107. That's not what the OP said.

"Remember....pro-lifers created this economic crisis....now it's killing babies. "

[Cerridwen]

109. Part of the crisis they helped create is lack of funding for social

safety-net programs.

There's a post down thread in which the poster notes that their state sends mothers home with cases of infant formula; not cans. Florida has apparently cut funding for those programs that might have helped avoid something exactly like what has happened.


note: truly weird; as I was replying you were editing and I saw two different posts of yours to reply to. Okay, I hope this reply shows up in the right order.

[boozepusher]

108. We all have to make choices everyday

no matter what the financial situation. This woman wasn't forced to make the choice she made.

[Cerridwen]

111. She made the choice to do something that had worked before.

This time it didn't and it had horrific consequences.

As to the rest of your statement; you should be so lucky as to never have to make those types of "choices."

[Mushroom]

116. What's a boozepusher? n/t

[boozepusher]

118. I own a liquor store.

Someone who sells drugs is called a drug pusher, I sell booze.

[Crunchy Frog]

90. She was getting help. Apparently it wasn't enough.

Maybe she oughta just pull herself up by her boot straps.

[Dorian Gray]

130. Oh come on now....

it was a horrible mistake. Ignorant, yes. But still a mistake. The child is okay now, she has been educated that she can't water down her formula, and hopefully she will get the necessary help in order to take care of her baby from this day forward.

[Quantess]

171. She did get WIC. She says it wasn't enough.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/01/011656/authorities-diluting-formula-save-cash-almost-kill/

[JerseygirlCT]

162. Great point - which is why time to pump really ought to be

mandated for new mothers who are back to work.

Can be done in 15 minutes. I did it!

But yes, the people who need the help the most - the nutrition, the rest, the whole package - are the least likely to have it.

More reason for paid maternity leaves.

[MrsMatt]

176. pumping is not always successful

With both my children, I was given ample time and opportunity to pump - unfortunately, every day my output would be less and less. My body just didn't like the pump (which was a top of the line Medela).

I tried damn near every remedy to increase production, but it never really helped.

[JerseygirlCT]

177. It's funny

With the first, I could pump 8-12 oz a time (no kidding!) in 15 minutes flat. WHOOSH.

With the second, it was tough to get 6 oz. I was definitely older, and tired, and probably dealing with undiagnosed PPD. It definitely varies.

So yes, I know. But it can succeed, and giving mothers who want to try every opportunity instead of road blocks is just a sensible idea. Other people spend more time surfing the net or on cigarette breaks, you know?

[kimmerspixelated]

20. Why do we need to be so mean?

Most people don't even know what WIC is!

[Tempest]

23. Ignorance causes meanness

WIC program budgets are being slashed and women are getting turned away because of the lack of funds.

Notice how he didn't mention that?

[youthere]

47. WIC does not provide all the formula an infant needs...

it's a supplemental program. It only provides SOME help. The woman could have very well been on the WIC program and still not be able to afford the rest of the formula her baby needed. She was probably trying to "stretch" the free cans of formula she got through WIC.Sad....really really sad.

[BamaGirl]

52. Glad someone pointed this out

I was starting to get irritated lol. Two of my three kids were on WIC. I always ran out of formula before the beginning of the month. Thankfully, I had parents who insisted on going to the grocery store when they visited. And for the why not breastfeed crowd, I was in the Army. Not a friendly environment for breastfeeding mothers, at least not in my MOS. None of my friends managed to do it for more than a couple of weeks either, so I know I wasn't the only one forced to resort to formula.

[Dorian Gray]

131. Like me

I have no idea what WIC is.

(What is it?)

[Tempest]

State WIC programs are getting cut to the bone

Women in California are being turned away because of a lack of funds.

And it's happening all over the country.

[lady raven]

113. I am on WIC and so is my SIL

I breastfeed, so I have no frame of reference.

She couldn't breastfeed. She gets about half the amount of formula her daughter needs. WIC is supplemental- It is not meant to cover all a baby's needs.

My SIL buys 10-15 cans of formula per month, even with WIC.

[Ilsa]

115. Not if the mother can't produce enough milk, and I've worked with

plenty who can't. The woman's breast is a very complicated organ when it comes to milk production. Pre-existing medical conditions, even some relating to the birth of the baby, can come into play.

I nursed both of my kids for years apiece, but I wouldn't judge another woman on this issue, at least not until I knew the facts.

[JonLP24]

153. Appearently she already went through WIC

Moss agreed to share her story this afternoon in hopes of warning other parents that water can kill. She had no idea, she said. She was just trying to stretch the eight to 10 cans of formula she got each month through the Women, Infants and Children program.

From post below.

I mean come on. Of all the things you worry about with a small child such as chocking on small things, suffocating, and all kinds of ways for a quick accidental death I'm sure drowing on watered down formula is the last thing on any young mother's mind. To me it seems like she is far from stupid especially considering she is out there sharing her story informing others that might not know such a thing.

[LSK]

178. what on earth is WIC?????????

For the record I do not have any kids.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

19. This has been going on all over the world for many years now.

Mostly in third world countries where infant formula makers have been pushing formula over breast feeding, very sad.

[slackmaster]

22. I remember my ex-wife getting involved in an anti-Nestle campaign back in the early '90s

Something about Nestle pushing their formula on third-world countries to the detriment of breast feeding.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

25. That's correct. Hmm I wonder why we're still here after millions of

years without the help of corporations.

[BrklynLiberal]

39. Exactly. See my post below

[anonymous171]

174. Yep. nt

[Davis_X_Machina]

27. I saw something sad in Allentown this week...

...the infant formula all under lock and key at the front of a supermarket, in the same kind of plexiglass-covered shelves as the cigarettes. A cashier had to fetch a manager-type to unlock the stuff for a customer.

I'm guessing the Isomil and Similac were 'walking'....

[Quantess]

34. That is really sad.

Can you imagine mothers needing to steal infant formula because their baby is hungry? Apparently, it happens quite a lot.

It's possible some of those women wanted an abortion but couldn't afford it, which is also tragic for everyone involved. It just shows how few choices people in poverty have.

[proud patriot]

49. must have been a loss issue or it wouldn't be locked

I have been asked for money for formula before
in the Grocery store parking lot by a young mother
holding her baby before .

Scam or not I gave her $10.00

[tnlefty]

99. I've done that before too, and scam or not I was okay with it.

I can't imagine a woman in the parking lot on a cold night with an infant if she and the infant were okay. I've given baby blankets away, too.

[tnlefty]

100. I've done that before too, and scam or not I was okay with it.

I can't imagine a woman in the parking lot on a cold night with an infant if she and the infant were okay. I've given baby blankets away, too.

[ipfilter]

137. I was told by a local Walgreens and have read that

formula is under lock down because it is stolen and used to cut cocaine.

[BrklynLiberal]

32. Nestle's is a huge marketer of baby formula. There have been reports for years

of babies dying due to over-diluted formula. The mothers are trying to stretch what they have, and do not realize the harm they are doing. Nestle's continues to push its products...including bottled water...without giving the proper instructions. This has been happening in African and Asian countries where the economics were the factor that forced the mothers to do this.



http://www.babymilkaction.org/pdfs/sustexpose.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott

[Generic Other]

42. I confess to ignorance

I had no idea you could drown a baby by diluting formula. I assume they state this in big bold letters on the cans? I feel sorry for the mother and the infant! I remember what it was like to be a poor young mother with no resources.

[yodoobo]

50. Wow I never heard of such a thing.

Especially since some formula is powder and you then you mix with water.

[Cerridwen]

51. Additional information at link (with snippet) below

TAMPA - No one ever told 23-year-old Jeri Moss that putting too much water in her baby's formula could kill him.

She had used the money-stretching trick with her older child, 18-month-old Yasmine Barton, with no problem.

<snip>

Moss agreed to share her story this afternoon in hopes of warning other parents that water can kill. She had no idea, she said. She was just trying to stretch the eight to 10 cans of formula she got each month through the Women, Infants and Children program.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/01/011656/authorities-diluting-formula-save-cash-almost-kill/

She had done this with her first child who displayed no problems.

A quick google showed that other mothers have asked the question about diluting formula for their babies. Apparently, it's not *common knowledge* that it is an unsafe practice.

The more insulated we become; the more we disconnect from our extended-families (historically and traditionally where we learned to parent and who provided "support"); the more generational knowledge we lose.

The more we have to focus on surviving day-to-day; the less chance we have of learning and sharing what we learn.

edit for more links:

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7979695&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/01/authorities-diluting-formula-save-cash-almost-kill/news-breaking/

[gaspee]

60. thanks for posting this

I'm sick of the downright republicanesqe blaming that goes on around here.

[Sonicmedusa]

62. You and me both!

It would appear that some of the posters on this thread would like to see this young, inexperienced mother jailed and her children placed in DSS custody.

What the hell is going on at DU lately?

[Cerridwen]

66. You're welcome.

Much of the "blame game" that I see here reminds me of acquaintances I've known over the years who say such wonderful things as "Well, *I* knew better so why didn't s/he?" "*I* managed to do/think/figure out/accomplish {fill in the blank}, why can't s/he?"

A former co-worker complaining about "those women on welfare" goes on to tell how 30 years ago she had an infant son who was disabled and she was recently divorced with absolutely nothing yet she "made it! Dammit! Without anybody's help!" Why can't "those" women? She then goes on to tell about how her dad co-signed and helped her buy a car and subsidized her rent.

Yep, she made it all by her little lonesome, she did. Well, except for all the times dad helped out and mom babysat. *sigh*

[SoCalDem]

81. Florida must be a cheapskate state

Here, they get 2 CASES of formula a month..Back when I worked at a grocery store the case cost about $35.. (some would try to return the stuff for cash, or sell it to other women for cash)..we started requiring a Doctor's phone number so the manager could call if "the doctor took the baby off formula"..

Their literature is VERY specific, and should be easy to understand

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicworks/Documents/WIC-NE-AuthorizedFoodListEnglish08-07.pdf

[Cerridwen]

82. Apparently.

Though after reading through this thread, it's not just Florida. It appears many states have cut funding to social programs. States' budgets fall off and the first things that go are safety-net programs.

[lady raven]

114. In OK, it's 10 cans

The formula that is standard in OK comes 6 to a case. Two cases isn't that much.

[Crunchy Frog]

89. So she actually was on WIC.

So much for all the judgemental posts on this thread.

[Cerridwen]

94. Yes. It wasn't enough. She's going to school. They aren't making

enough money and she didn't know this would happen as she had done it before with her first child with no problems.

I googled and found many questions about this issue on "new mother" "mothering," etc. type message boards. This isn't, apparently, commonly known to cause problems.

She made a point of coming out publicly and telling her story so that others could learn from her sad mistake. People here, however, are ready to "hang her for attempted murder," so to speak.

Now I remember why I quit posting and reading here. I think it's about time to quit again.

[Crunchy Frog]

96. Might as well just let this board become Free Republic lite.

[slackmaster]

146. The judgementalism always cuts both ways when a poorly written article is cited

Some people react with one kind of "logic" or emotion, or another.

[slackmaster]

145. Thanks very much for the information, it's very helpful in understanding the situation

Too bad the writers and editors of the story linked to in the OP shirked their journalistic duty.

[Cerridwen]

147. "...shirked their journalistic duty." Ain't it the truth? It happens more

and more that we have to be the investigators to find out the facts behind what the "journalists" "report." I shudder to think how limited out knowledge would be were it not for the internet. Even then we have to sift through opinion versus fact versus rant versus FUD versus...etc.

[wildflowergardener]

56. Not stupid

I would have no idea that you couldn't add extra water to baby formula without harming a baby - and I'm a college graduate. Where is someone supposed to learn this - I don't think it's stupid at all that she might not have known this as some people say here. Also not everyone can read the can I assume.

Of course I'm not a mother so I have made no attempt to learn about how I would care for a baby but I'd have no idea - of course I could read the bottle - but could she - there are adults who can't read.

Meg

[Crunchy Frog]

93. I actually find that hard to believe.

Have people been watering down their cat food to make it last longer? Do people think that soup works out just as well if you add two cans of water instead of one? But maybe I'm just mistaking the tiniest bit of grounding in basic biology, chemistry, and thermodynamics for common sense.

[ipfilter]

138. Not to mention the warnings on the can.

Every can of formula I ever used had a warning to not dilute the mixture.

[Tight_rope]

77. As a first time pregnant mother to be, this really scares me.

There is no excuse for her doing that, the government has programs that give free formula to infants.

[Cerridwen]

78. See post #51

[gollygee]

79. Read through the thread

She was using WIC. Also, the baby didn't get sick from getting skinny, it got sick from "water intoxication", so he/she (can't remember) might have looked fine weight-wise, which wouldn't have alerted her to the problem. I'd never heard of "water intoxication" before this. And people in desperate financial situations do things that are desperate.

Also, why would this scare you more as a pregnant mother-to-be if you know you wouldn't do this?

[Ms. Toad]

149. The baby was also sick from "getting skinny."

He was also diagnosed with malnourishment, weighing only about 2/3 of what he should have weighed. (Not malnourished enough to be as immediately dangerous as the water intoxication - but he was suffering from not enough food.)

[JonLP24]

154. edited

He weighs 8 pounds, 6 ounces and should be nearly 12 pounds.

I don't know how bad that is but it probaly goes back to the point of finances. Anyways, from what I read there are far worse mothers then this one. As soon as she noticed something was wrong she attempted to administer CPR then took the baby to the hospital. As far as not following the instructions(Not all of these are addressed directly to you)

She said she used four scoops of Good Start soy formula in 6 ounces of water instead of what the directions called for, six scoops in 8 ounces of water.

I can clearly see how she made a very honest mistake. When I mix kool-aid and I don't have enough for say 2 liters, I'll adjust the amount of sugar, water, mix accordingly in the exact same way she tried the formula. Obviously not the same thing and shouldn't be treated as such but some of the comments about this woman especially relying on the news to tell you everything about this woman is disgraceful.

on edit: You're right, appearently I can't do basic math.

[Ms. Toad]

167. Her intent was to replace some portion of the food

(the powder) with water, which has no nutritional value so that the same amount of powder (food) would last longer. I would hope that anyone old enough to bear a child would understand that if you put less food in, you lose weight (or don't gain weight for children) - and that losing weight (or not gaining) when you are that small is not a good thing.

As for the kool-aid mixing - it's a real different thing to water down (and thus provide less of) the only food your child is getting, as opposed to watering down a supplemental beverage that is virtually all sugar water in the first place.

[gollygee]

180. I saw the picture eventually and yes he did look skinny

The only other baby I've seen who looked that skinny was a girl whose mom was following a method where you fed the baby every four hours and ONLY every four hours no matter how hungry they seemed.

[Sonicmedusa]

80. Get off your fucking high horse and check back with us

when you are raising two children on limited means.

[Pastiche423]

117. I am a mother

My baby is twenty six years old and I never knew that watered down formula was dangerous. Furthermore, just how was she suppose to learn about government programs if they are not advertised?

Good luck w/your new baby. Sounds like you're going to need it.

[Hekate]

83. THIS IS COMMON IN THIRD-WORLD NATIONS. Really. Only in those cases, the water is also dirty...

Too effing bad we have come to this in the USA in our time. :argh:

When a combination of poverty and overwork strike in any part of the planet, it has always been too common to give the baby just about anything to fill its stomach, including watered down cow's milk. Breast feeding is irrelevant if (1) mom's nutrition and/or health are poor, or (2) mom has to work outside the home for long hours. And a modern Western-nations twist (3) mom doesn't have a social support network to help her learn how to do this. Higher-order mammals *all* have to be taught by older females.

My own mother was in a state of exhaustion when my next brother was born (we're only 13 months apart), and when he had his 6-week checkup he had actually lost weight. She had to put him on the bottle with the formula of the day: canned evaporated milk, water, and Karo syrup.

I was a 1970s mom, and was going to go back to work *and* breastfeed. Right. I had so many painful problems I can't begin to tell you -- and I was trying to express milk in a bathroom stall. Nice. At least I was able to stay home on my husband's salary. I breastfed both my kids for a year, in spite of continuous physical pain. Sorry, it was not the glorious experience for me that it's supposed to be.

My guess is that young woman in Florida is economically poor, her own nutrition is poor, and she lacks a social network to help her. If she's also trying to work outside the home for minimum wage, it's really impossible. Welfare? Social workers? Anyone reaching out with anything but criticisms and blame?

Hekate

[MadMaddie]

84. Wow I am surprised at how harsh many people are towards this

mother.

Obviously, all of the information is not there in the article.

Lack of education could play a role in this situation.

Just sayin....she is probably doing the best she can.

[gollygee]

87. The article in post #51 explains more

She was getting WIC but they didn't give her enough formula, and used water to stretch it out. She did it without any problems with an older child so she assumed there wouldn't be problems this time. It's too bad that the WIC people didn't explain that it isn't OK to water down the formula, but they're probably trying to present the amount they give out as enough for a baby's needs. But, of course, if she got enough, she wouldn't have to stretch it out.

[Ms. Toad]

150. Mom's in college - ironically in a medical field.

"She is studying at Everest University, a private tech school, to be a medical assistant." http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/01/011656/authorities-diluting-formula-save-cash-almost-kill/

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

86. Cost Of Formula, 1% Of Blame. Her Sheer Stupidity, 99%.

And if she's that desperate for cash, then maybe she should think about using the completely free food source that god gave her.

Thank god the baby is ok though.

[Cerridwen]

91. Oh gee. A woman to blame who isn't Hillary - and there you are.

How about blaming the daddy a bit? Seems daddy isn't helping much with money. Maybe daddy should have known better.

Maybe only people of a certain IQ and/or education should have children? Wait! We already tried that here in the US. Maybe we could limit it based on financial status; or better yet, credit score. Wouldn't that be cool? We could have financial eugenics for the masses.

Let me guess - you read nothing of the thread and little of the OP before you replied.

[Quantess]

102. You are reading things that aren't there!

It's none of my business, but maybe you should just put him on ignore list. You might already be on his. Just sayin'.

[Cerridwen]

105. I'm seeing a years long pattern of posts. This is just one more in

a long line of similar posts.

[bahrbearian]

148. Oh come on the guy is a jerk, it is pretty easy to read that..

[gollygee]

92. Breastfeeding isn't all that easy to get going always

I had to go to a lactation consultant twice, $50 each time, to get things working right. This woman obviously was in no position to pay for that kind of help if things weren't working well for her. Also, if she was working, she'd have to buy a breast pump (very expensive) and her employer would have to give her time and space to pump (not too likely unless you work in an office).

Read the whole thread through. She was getting WIC but they didn't give her enough for the baby's needs, and she watered it down to try to make it last the whole month. The baby died of "water intoxication", which I've never even heard of, not from being skinny, so the baby might have looked fine weight-wise. And she did the same with an older child who never had any health problems as a result.

[Hekate]

119. It isn't that easy. All the higher-order mammals need instruction from older females, I've read...

Humans, apes, dolphins, elephants. We're smart, but we need to be taught things--unlike mother cats, who just push out their kittens, bite the cords, lick them clean and eat the afterbirth before nudging the kits into place to nurse.

We (the smart creatures) also need social support. When I was in so much trouble nursing my firstborn I knew about the existence of the La Leche League, but I didn't have any transportation to get to meetings. I read all about it, but that's not the same thing at all.

Gods, people can be judgmental.

Hekate

[LeftyMom]

120. That's not always an option.

I'm totally pro-breastfeeding, but anybody who's never had so much as a plugged duct, let alone had thrush in their nipples or the pain of mastitis or even just stared longingly at a plate of cooling food because you can wait and your baby can't doesn't get to judge a woman for choosing another option.

[lostnfound]

125. You think you know more than you do about breastfeeding.

You can't stop for 8 hours, especially in the beginning, and you can't start and stop and restart. If she works, this isn't an option.

The kid wasn't starving; he was drowning.

I know a baby who was getting very, very skinny despite being breastfed on demand 24-7. He latched properly but the milk wasn't coming. It happens. Maybe it happened in this case.

The kid wasn't starving; he was drowning.

[Ms. Toad]

151. Actually, the kid was ALSO starving.

In addition to water intoxication, he was diagnosed as malnourished. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/01/011656/authorities-diluting-formula-save-cash-almost-kill/

[Quantess]

170. To my eyes, neither baby nor mom look like a *picture of health*.

[Ms. Toad]

172. I agree.

Babies don't usually have a face that adult looking until much older (when they lose their baby fat).

[Raineyb]

141. Ugh! Do you ever post anything that doesn't make you sound like an asshole?

Welcome to my ignore list.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

169. No, wait, don't tell me. That was OPERATIONMINDCRIME, right?

Queensryche should sue him for defamation of character.

[Sanctified]

88. I fail to understand how pro-lifers caused this, can you elaborate. n/t

[Crunchy Frog]

95. In our political system, the "pro-lifers"

tend to be the same people who are also radical free market capitalists, who don't believe in any sort of government regulation, and who don't believe in any government run social safety net type programs. George W. Bush presents himself as a pro-lifer, and the self described pro-lifers voted for him, and later, McCain, overwhelmingly.

My guess is that most pro-lifers won't care about this sort of thing, since it took place outside of the woman's reproductive tract.

[kath]

110. You're right - once it's out of the womb and no longer a fetus, the "pro-life" crowd doesn't give a

shit.
Pretty much the Scroogian attitude of "let them die, then, and reduce the surplus population" for any life except fetuses.

[undergroundpanther]

124. Women

are more likely to be forced by necessity to stay with an abusive male or stay married and depend upon her husband if she is pregnant or has kids. This is about maintaining PATRIARCHY.

The pro lifers do not care about kids really,they care about maintaining social male dominance or patriarchy.It has to do with the warped conservative belief in the male 'christian'god who ordained these orders and classes, of people arranged in a bible based social hierarchy,homes head by males and women submit to males this is also why the "social conservatives" hate gays,and think god wanted * to be president,and they also think the rich are favored by god and deserve more(free market fits in here).It all fists together in the warped beliefs of conservatism.


What do Conservatives 'conserve' anyway? To answer this you must ask what is the real meaning of "Conservative"? Where did this 'ideology' come from? Who made it up? And Why?
When I hear some snotty elitist speak of "ordered liberty," I can't help but ask,

Liberties come in which order?

And whose liberty is the most important and first here?

Could this two-faced social Darwinism crap really be the true unspoken origins of Conservatism in America?

Yes, Virginia, it is.

After all, when you look at what they say vs how what they say pans out in the real world, you'll find out what exactly these elitists calling themselves conservative are conserving. They are conserving their own power, wealth, and social domination within their own ranks... and all the talk goes to those sickening same old self-interested ends.
http://www.unknownnews.org/060502a-Panther.html

[Quantess]

181. Great post. Better suited as an OP on a new thread, really.

I'll read the link when I have more time.

[nc4bo]

104. Diluted evaporated milk & Kayo syrup and vit. supplements worked for my family

way back in the day....

Not sure why some women didn't breastfeed but I do know that many a baby was raised on that stuff with no ill effects.

Breastfeeding should be #1 but there are emergency replacements for infant formula.

[Ilsa]

112. Alot of babies don't tolerate cows' milk protein. That is why so many are

on soy-based formulas, Nutramigen, etc. Regular formula doesn't work for them, and neither would evaporated milk-based homemade formulas.

As a nurse, I've met many moms who had to cut ALL of the dairy out of their diets because their babies had such a low threshold to this allergen.

[LeftyMom]

121. Cows' milk protiens have to be broken down for a baby to digest them.

Also, the salt content has to be reduced, more fats have to be added for proper brain development... And that's just to create something that'll keep most kids alive and growing, but that's still a pale shadow of the real deal.

Survival rates on formula are lower than those of infants on human milk, even in developed countries where the water is safe. Homemade preparations are even less safe and nowhere near as nutritionally adequate.

[nc4bo]

126. So if that woman is that poor, that destitute and unable to get government assistance, she should

let her kid starve?

If her kid is already on formula, than she could and should substitute "something" rather than drown her baby, yes?

Bad time are coming. People will continue having unprotected sex even in the worst of economic times. Babies will continue to be born to those who can not afford to have them.

I guess if a woman is that poor, she should just pump her kid full of water and let it die?

[undergroundpanther]

123. Social problems

Social Darwinism has become a popular belief system even on the left.Everyday I see posters here blaming the individual for a social service failures ,or socially caused problems that need a social will to give a shit to solve that problem.Instead I see people blaming the victims or the people who don't know,or the person who is poor for making"bad choices" when the critic has NO CLUE how life IS for poor people.
You cannot fix social problems with more "individual choices" or by championing the social Darwinist bullshit called "Personal responsibility".

If a mother is poor and waters down the formula to make ends meet than somewhere, someone who could have helped her did not get the information or help to her,be it information about WIC or the simple knowlege that babies can drown from watered down formula or how to breastfeed.

This mother's mistake is the result of a social (Darwinist belief system)problem.Social services and the social safety net has been de-funded severely by the right wing,(and the left(clintons were not kind to the poor) And people left and right still preach about "personal responsibility" when it comes to mishaps of poor people, but when the rich fuck up or fuck up scamming people,to the point it fucks up the economy they get billions of taxpayer bucks given to them.Socialism for the rich pigs,but free market sink or swim survival for everyone else.If you are poor you are already disadvantaged struggling to stay above water with lead weights on your legs pulling you down into worse financial stress..

Now, if social services like WIC or mental health clinics/programs,psych survivor orgs/drop ins,other programs for the poor,the homeless,the elderly,pregnant,afterschool programs, services for children,the disabled, domestic abuse,rape counseling,dental care,aids care,addictions help,medicaid/medicare,food stamps,section 8 housing.etc.Got a chunk of the massive amounts of money that the IRRESPONSIBLE rich CEO's of the failed banks got,Things for people who need help would not be so fragmented and unknown to those who need help this way.

You can see this countries social Darwinist priorities. Just follow the money and listen for the social Darwinist phrases"personal responsibility"and Individual choice" when we are talking about a social or community/program failure that is socially caused and is a results in a failure in "the help system".

[timtom]

127. I missed the "pro-lifers" connection.

I think you would be better served at the more correct attribution: Greedy thoughtless bastards created this economic crisis.

Perhaps you should examine the parameters of your consciousness.

[Dorian Gray]

128. That's terrible

Poor baby and poor mom. She must have had no clue.

I had a friend who had the type of formula that needed water added to it when they had their first newborn. But they didn't read the label, and they thought that the wet formula was fine to feed to the baby as is. A week later, they ended up in the emergency room. The child almost died because he was dehydrated. (The opposite of this story.) His skin had turned a yellowish green, and he almost went into respiratory failure.

I wish that there was a mini-course at the hospital before parents left so that things like this wouldn't happen. These people are intelligent parents. They were just careless about something that seemed so natural.

[slackmaster]

133. I read this as mainly a "good news" story, and it can also serve as a warning

Good News:

1. The baby survived and will hopefully recover with no permanent harm.

2. Mom got the baby to medical care in time in spite of whatever led to the situation.

3. Competent medical care was available to these people when they needed it, although who will pay for it is not stated.

4. Medical technology can accomplish wonderful things, although pro-active measures are preferable.

5. Hopefully this young mother will learn from her mistake.

6. Nobody has been charged with a crime.

The story will be ready by possibly millions of people, and maybe someone else will not have the same crisis because of it.

[Lars39]

134. The underlying problem is not addressed: WIC program is underfunded

and babies of poor people suffer the consequences.

[slackmaster]

135. I haven't read all the replies or searched for other news coverage, but the OP is not clear at all

On whether unavailability of WIC benefits had anything to do with this specific situation. The story does not say a word about what kinds of benefits the mom was eligible for, what she had actually applied for, etc.

Being an information junkie, when I read a story like this I always want to see a breakdown of the subject's income, expenses, assets, and liabilities; a summary of how she came to her present financial situation; what became of the biological father of the child; etc. The few formal journalism courses I took in college taught me just enough to recognize that real reporting is so rare now that few people are aware that they are being systematically spoon-fed selected information edited down to that which is most likely to get them to patronize whatever corporation is sponsoring the presenting media.

I agree that WIC is underfunded.

[Cerridwen]

143. Post #51 has links to additional reports with additional information n/t

[Earth_First]

136. What's especially worse about this story is that the mother had a difficult time procuring formula..

now the mother will have a difficult time finding ways to pay for the treatment to save her childs life.

This pisses me off to no end.

Good luck to the mother & child!

[Ms. Toad]

152. I find this story interesting - and rather scary,

given my own experiences breastfeeding my daughter.

I did not want any supplemental feeding for my daughter - and was fighting both the medical profession in the hospital in which she was born and my mother (who had tried and failed at breastfeeding me). Neither were really sure breastfeeding worked and pushed very hard for supplemental feeding. I knew supplemental feeding is one of the largest barriers to breastfeeding, so was extremely resistant to it.

When my daughter lost a few ounces while she was in the hospital (absolutely normal for breastfed babies, I learned when I was out of the hospital and had access to reference materials) the hospital insisted that I at least allow them to give her a bottle of water. When I got home, my mother insisted on giving her another bottle of water. I acquiesced because I figured it was relatively harmless, in the larger scheme of things, and frankly was too exhausted to fight them since labor was 48 hours long before I had a C-section.

According to the quick research I did after reading this story, both put her at risk for water intoxication. NO supplemental water should be given to children under 6 months of age.

If even the physicians in the hospital, or my mother who was an RN for years, weren't aware of this concern I'm not sure that we should expect this mother to have been aware of the be aware of the acute risk associated with adding extra water to her son's food.

(That does not excuse her ignorance regarding the long term risks associated giving her son less food than he needs - he was also diagnosed as being malnourished.)

[SoCalDem]

156. I nursed my boys and they HATED water from a bottle

They only wanted one thing..and I never fed them baby cereal or baby food until they were about 6-7 months old..and even then, I just pureed oatmeal and whatever we were eating..( i do not cook with salt).. They never had any allergies or weight problems...and the baby is pushing 30 this year, so I guess I didn;t do them any harm :)

[Ms. Toad]

165. I did not intend to give any supplemental feeding

- including water - until my daughter was at least 6 months old. Aside from the 2 bottles of water the hospital and my mother insisted she have, she didn't have anything else until around 10-11 months, when she started being interested in real people food (we never did the pureed food - she went straight from breast milk to adult food, and continued nursing until around 18 months). In deciding not to provide supplemental feeding, however, I did not have a clue that giving an infant water could be critically dangerous - I was solely trying to make breastfeeding a success. (Since it is easier to drink from a bottle, adding bottles early on often results in babies who are too lazy or don't know how to exert the effort it takes to nurse.)

My point is that even the two bottles of water she did have, at least according to current thinking, were dangerous AND they were pushed on her/me by physicians and current and former nurses who apparently did not know they were dangerous. If medically trained people do not know that providing supplemental water (either alone, or mixed with formula at higher than the designated ratio) can cause an immediate and life threatening condition, why would we expect the mother in this case to know.

(Again, that doesn't excuse the mother for not understanding that cutting her son's food down by 11% - or more - would cause malnutrition.)

[moriah]

155. I'm so glad that the baby is okay.

And maybe it will be a lesson for others.

It is so sad, though, that parents are so strapped for cash that they have to water down their baby's formula.

[Stuckinthebush]

166. Best response to this thread

Thank you for your level headed and compassionate response.

[dkf]

157. 4 scoops to 6 ozs vs. 6 scoops to 8 ozs can kill a baby?

Who knew? thats like 67% vs 75% which you wouldn't think is so out of kilter it would kill your baby.

[Ms. Toad]

173. Apparently many in the medical community don't know

that babies should not be given ANY supplemental water (which includes extra water in their formula) before 6 months.

My own physician, the nurses in the hospital, and my mother (who trained and practiced for a while as an RN) insisted I give my daughter water in the hospital, and when we first arrived home from the hospital, when I refused to feed her formula and she took more time than they thought appropriate to start nursing. That appears to be a dangerous practice, based on what I found when I looked up water intoxication in connection with this incident.

So - REALLY - who knew?

[Vinca]

158. What a sad story. I saw it on the news and the mother doesn't

look like she's had a decent meal in a long time either.

[CatsDogsBabies]

159. I was told of the dangers of giviing water

to infants. I am surprised that I am the only one. I was clueless about babies/children until I was surprised with a pregnancy at a pretty old age for a first time mother (or any mother for that matter). I was given all the information about feeding right after my child was born (my child is still very young, not yet school-aged). I was told no water until six months, no watered down formula and a host of other things about feeding and baby care. In my case this was just part of the routine information given out by our pediatrician on our initial visit. I don't know whether this woman had her child visit a pediatrician, but I assume so. If all pediatricians don't give out basic information about feeding, they should.

[Ms. Toad]

175. They don't -

or at least they didn't when my daughter was born 18 years ago.

I saw two different OB/GYNs - one of whom insisted that my daughter be given water within 48 hours of birth. I also did extensive reading ahead of her birth, and the only context in which supplemental water was discouraged was because it made it harder to establish the nursing relationship - or with formula would make the baby feel artificially full with the result that it would not consume enough formula to thrive.

Nothing I ran across at that time hinted that the water, in and of itself, could be dangerous.

[gollygee]

179. I didn't hear about it from the pediatrician or the hospital

I went to La Leche League and it was a pretty common question there. "Should I give my baby water when it gets hot in the summer?" And I had well-meaning people suggest I give my daughter, who was born in the spring, bottles of water that first summer to keep her cool. But the only place I heard that I shouldn't was at La Leche League, and as this woman obviously wasn't breastfeeding, she wouldn't have heard it from them. And even then I didn't hear *why* I shouldn't - I never heard about "water intoxication" until this thread - it was just that they should get breastmilk and only breastmilk.

[JerseygirlCT]

160. WHY aren't more new mothers given the encouragement they need

to breastfeed?

She didn't have to buy formula. It *is* crazy stupid expensive.

This is so sad.