  I've had some comments about my post "Formula just doesn't measure up". I want to address a couple of things.
jenavive said, "{applause} I agree wholeheartedly! " Thank you Jenavive. :) That's one of the wonderful things about the online world, I am able to find those who agree with me. Jenni said, "My last baby REFUSED to take the breast. I tried. I called everyone and every nurse I could think of and he would not do it.
He was preemie and I don't think his suck was strong enough. After a week I gave him a bottle. He did fine. My first baby I pumped for a month and he passed away before we could use it, he was very preemie. I donated the milk to the other babies. My middle one would have stayed on the breast for a life time but I couldn't keep up with the demand.
I know breast is the best but sometimes you just can't. " I guess I forgot to say that sometimes there are problems and you have to make a choice. IMO though, your preemie NEEDED breastmilk even more than a full-term baby. Mothers of preemies have breastmilk of a different composition, made especially for their babies. Did you attempt to pump so that your baby could be fed your breastmilk via tube or syringe or even bottle?
I am so sorry that your first baby died, I can only imagine how terrible it was (and I have known loss as my infant brother died of brain cancer complications when I was 9 years old) to loss your son. You said your middle son would stayed on the breast forever but you couldn't keep up. Well, breastmilk is supply and demand so restricting nursing will restrict your supply. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you... did you mean he nursed too much for you? GlycoFamily said, "You go girl!
I think we bought our soapbox from the same dealer :) My sis has a baby who has been in NICU for over 2 weeks. Praise the Lord he goes home tomorrow but my sis was told not to breastfeed (and that includes pumping) because her milk is growing organisms or some crazy mess like that. UGh! I offerred to pump (and already have) for him but my sis said, "Nah, that's OK. If formula is OK with the neonatologists then it's OK with me.
" BIG SIGH......... Hope to read you often :)" I find that horrifying. Despite medical evidence (and evidence of preemies and babies everywhere), some doctors choose to ignore how vital breastmilk can be for babies. If we deny a baby breastmilk, we can never know their full potentional. How can you say, I fed formula and it didn't hurt him? Your baby misses out on vital brain food that formula just can't provide. Why would you CHOOSE to deny your baby? Erin said, "Well, I would go one step further and say the formula on the market today is junk food.
It would be better to make your own from whole food sources. Check out the book Nourishing Traditions for more info. But of course, human milk for human babies... it is so sad women are given poor information/support, and have to suffer through bottle feeding. " I agree Erin, to a certain extent. I think formula is gross, but I suppose I am glad it's there for the babies who actually NEED it.
However, before I would give formula I would first choose my pumped milk and if that was unavailable I would use donated milk from friends (or others if I could afford a pastuerizer like Jenn at http://www.feedmybaby.com ). Then and only then would I give formula. I wouldn't starve my baby, but I wouldn't choose to feed my baby something that is made for a cow and has to be diluted and then fortified. BTW, they fortify formula with the cheapest iron available, hence many babies don't even absorb what they need. More comments coming soon.
:) 
