Infant formula — how did we get here after the natural breastfeeding process?
In her book “Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession”, now in its seventh edition, leading pediatrician Dr. Ruth Lawrence calls infant formula “one of the greatest experiments in the history of mankind.” Formulas were invented, ingredients came and went, and no randomized clinical trials or experiments of any kind were conducted before these mixtures were tested on real, living infants. To this day, not much has changed. The label of “scientific” that you see on formula today is the result of years of blind assumptions.
Sylvia Onusik
Formula: The Norm or a Last Resort?
Our memory is oddly structured: it’s incredibly short. Something foolish we did yesterday becomes an age-old tradition today, and dare you break it. So today, infant formula is seen as the norm, and a mother is considered free to choose whether to breastfeed or not—and no one seems to remember how exactly that came to be.
I remember my shock clearly when, already pregnant, I first learned that formula even existed. And I don’t believe a mother is “free to choose”; I believe the child is free to receive their natural food, the foundation of their immunity. When a mother knowingly takes that away from her baby, she also takes a great deal away from herself. I’m not talking about cases where a mother has done everything she can to breastfeed but couldn’t, or special clinical cases—I mean the conscious choice to formula-feed as a tribute to laziness, fashion, conformity, or personal whims. I won’t say “if you’re not ready, don’t give birth,” because I myself was completely unready, and every person has their own story—but once you’ve given birth, please, take responsibility. Trust nature. A child is the perfect teacher of intuition.
The History of Formula
We are what we eat. Leading neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter and practical medicine expert Dr. Mark Hyman state: “Every time you take a bite, you speak to your genes. Every food you eat instantly alters your DNA.” (In Islam, it’s even believed that if woman A breastfeeds woman B’s child three times, she becomes that child’s milk mother—thus, the children of women A and B can no longer marry.) If this is true, what does a synthetic, genetically modified, lifeless substance of questionable contents do to a child’s genes?
The First Formulas
In the 19th century, breastfeeding was considered the “gold standard” of nutrition, and bottle-fed babies were pitied due to the high mortality rates associated with this feeding method.
Nevertheless, attitudes were beginning to shift: by 1883, 27 brands of infant formula had been patented, designed to supplement cow’s milk—including the first officially launched formula by Justus von Liebig in 1869. Henri Nestlé’s formula, released in 1870, was made of “quality Swiss milk,” sugar, wheat flour, and malt.
In summer, such formulas would sour quickly in the heat, causing infant mortality rates to spike. People rushed to improve milk quality, opened special clinics, and bought specialized refrigerators. (A very typical scenario—instead of solving one problem, we create ten new ones, each of which, conveniently, can generate good profits, while the simple natural solution suspiciously costs nothing. I’ve even heard modern mothers who feed their children formula mocking breastfeeding mothers as stingy—saying they’re too cheap to buy formula.)
Breastfeeding as Low-Class
In aristocratic circles of the 19th century, breastfeeding was considered low-class. One had to be very resistant to social pressure to insist on feeding one’s own baby naturally. Aristocratic women would bind their breasts to “dry up” the milk (never try this!) and handed their babies over to wet nurses—until a wave of fear rose about the cleanliness of these women, who might pass on various venereal diseases.
To add to the panic, Sigmund Freud famously claimed that children derived sexual pleasure from sucking the breast. This disrupted the natural mental processes of mothers, and in the name of incest prevention, not only were breasts removed from a child’s life—but also hugs, kisses, and even being held.
So that’s where the roots of it all lie, huh?
The 20th Century
Doctors weren’t particularly interested in childbirth or breastfeeding until the emergence of fields like obstetrics and pediatrics in the early 20th century. Initially, formula was sold directly to people, but soon pediatricians got involved—prescribing formulas and even selling their own blends.
When a concerned mother suspected underfeeding, and an “authority” doctor confirmed it, the solution was to top up with formula. Naturally, this affected milk production. Mothers began leaving the maternity ward with bottles in hand, and before long, people were crying about their supposed inability to breastfeed—which, not coincidentally, aligned with rising sales for formula manufacturers.
Formula use gave rise to numerous terrible and implausible myths about breastfeeding, many of which persist to this day. It’s astonishing how deeply a myth can take root—enough to drown out the call of a mother’s heart, which instinctively knows what to do.
A Social History of Infant Feeding
The book “Mothers and Medicine: A Social History of Infant Feeding, 1890–1950” by Rima D. Apple invites readers to explore the historical and dark side of the infant formula industry. Many formula-fed children developed vitamin-deficiency diseases such as rickets and scurvy—until doctors and businessmen decided to add orange juice and cod liver oil to formula. Illness and death among children used as lab rats created constant new opportunities for bought-out “breakthroughs” and profit-driven strategies.
Formula During WWII and the Post-War Years
Although infant formula had already existed for nearly a century, it wasn’t until World War II and the post-war years that its use became widespread. In the 1950s and 60s, formula feeding became the norm, and breastfeeding rates tragically plummeted. The formula of that time was harsh on babies’ kidneys, dehydrated their tiny bodies, and caused anemia and scurvy.
In the 1970s, a few mothers finally noticed that something wasn’t right, and breastfeeding began to make a comeback — a revival that continues to this day. Notably, such change usually comes from the people, not from the medical profession. Additionally, new scientific studies at the time started highlighting the clear benefits of breast milk. Today, we have all the evidence — the topic is thoroughly researched — yet it’s incredible how old information hardens in people’s minds while new knowledge struggles to break through.
Is formula safe?
Formula is a white powder. Personally, when I think of white powder, I recall those stories about white powder in envelopes — often ending lethally. History shows that anything can be added to formula, and there’s a significant portion of people on this planet for whom nothing is more sacred than money. You might think, “Who would even think of poisoning children?” — but these people don’t care about your baby’s well-being. Breast milk never makes a mistake — research shows that even if you’re a smoker, the benefits of your milk outweigh the harms. Even the smallest amount of breast milk — even donor milk — gives your baby benefits that formula can never provide.
Formula increases the likelihood of obesity, insulin levels, allergies, diabetes, and many other conditions — and how many more consequences have yet to be studied? Formula is made from genetically modified and synthetic elements. It lacks vital cholesterol and instead contains mainly polyunsaturated fats, which may include trans fats and byproducts toxic due to heating and chemical additives — along with many other components absent in breast milk. I don’t want to scare anyone, but to me, that is scary.
And if you’re still not scared, read on. It’s proven that formula increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and in general doubles the baby’s risk of dying. Formula-fed babies are also at significantly higher risk for upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, flu, gastrointestinal infections, constipation issues, and more. Bottle-fed children more often require orthodontic treatment for bite issues, visit dentists for cavities and other dental problems, and work with speech therapists due to speech difficulties. They are also more likely to snore during sleep — which in turn often causes sleep apnea. Finally, formula doesn’t adjust its composition or proportions to meet your baby’s needs — unlike breast milk.
“Drs. Katie Hinde and J. Bruce German, renowned for their work decoding the components of mammalian milk, called human milk in their 2012 article ‘the Rosetta Stone of food… reflecting… the most elegant and compelling example of 200 million years of symbiotic co-evolution between producer and consumer.’”
What can be done?
Grow out of the mindset of “we did it this way, and everything was fine.” Today may be fine — tomorrow, nobody knows. Not all consequences are immediately visible to the naked eye.
Spread awareness about the harms of formula and the benefits of breastfeeding. File complaints against doctors who treat formula and breastfeeding as equals, intimidate, or even push formula on parents. Demand governmental support. Stand strong against an often unhelpful environment. And most importantly — something that is already happening — unite in local peer support groups, and even self-organize free or paid donor milk help for mothers who genuinely need it.
P.S. This article is based on (and partially adapted from) the excellent work of dietitian and researcher Sylvia Onusic, who was unable to breastfeed her two children due to illness-related milk insufficiency (a connection that doctors failed to recognize or address in time). She observed the negative effects of formula on both children’s health. Thanks to Sylvia for her in-depth dive into the topic, which gives many other mothers the chance to make informed choices.
See also:
Ingrid Bauer’s “Diaper-Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene”
