Posted on May 18, 2022
During baby formula shortage, St. Louis parents turn to Facebook swap groups
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Squeezed by a combination of supply disruptions and a nationwide recall, a shortage of baby formula is increasingly forcing parents to ration and scramble to keep their newborns fed.
But instead of hustling alone, they’re working together — and finding support on Facebook.
That’s what happened to Joanna Busby. Earlier this month, the High Ridge woman started a Facebook “formula swap” group after she and her husband had trouble finding formula for their 3-month-old son.
Online, they quickly connected with hundreds of local parents in the same predicament.
“It causes a lot of anxiety,” Busby told St. Louis on the Air. “Being a new mom, in general, is really hard. Anxiety really hits when you have a newborn — and then, the worry of not being able to feed your baby just exponentially makes it worse.”
New parents may also struggle with facing judgment and misconceptions about turning to formula for their children. Busby pointed out that suggestions to “just breastfeed instead” ignore the biological reality experienced by many new moms.
But instead of hustling alone, they’re working together — and finding support on Facebook.
That’s what happened to Joanna Busby. Earlier this month, the High Ridge woman started a Facebook “formula swap” group after she and her husband had trouble finding formula for their 3-month-old son.
Online, they quickly connected with hundreds of local parents in the same predicament.
“It causes a lot of anxiety,” Busby told St. Louis on the Air. “Being a new mom, in general, is really hard. Anxiety really hits when you have a newborn — and then, the worry of not being able to feed your baby just exponentially makes it worse.”
New parents may also struggle with facing judgment and misconceptions about turning to formula for their children. Busby pointed out that suggestions to “just breastfeed instead” ignore the biological reality experienced by many new moms.
During baby formula shortage, St. Louis parents turn to Facebook swap groups
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.org
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Parenting
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St. Louis
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 3
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Have to wonder what families or mothers did before baby formula ever existed. At least that's the argument my wife makes. We never used formula for our three girls. I understand there are special cases then again i know parents voluntarily choose formula with the opinion that its healthier than breast milk. That's a whole other debate.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
MAJ James Woods Both My Kids got Enfamil. I Know the Smell of Regurgitated Enfamil Well! LOL!
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There have been breast milk swap groups for quite some time. It's good that there are some options for folks.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT Tiffanie G. I was Amazed to Hear of Talk of "Wet Nurses" haven't heard about that being an option in More than a Century I Believe.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Still, with the country’s key formula factory potentially months away from restarting production, parents like Busby are hoping that their ad hoc swap groups and local support networks can hold up through the shortage.
While Busby says she’s glad the situation has gained national attention, she also worries how long the Facebook group can keep up."...
..."Still, with the country’s key formula factory potentially months away from restarting production, parents like Busby are hoping that their ad hoc swap groups and local support networks can hold up through the shortage.
While Busby says she’s glad the situation has gained national attention, she also worries how long the Facebook group can keep up."...
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