A new study purports to have discovered that infant formula can help moms breastfeed. What the study actually shows is that when supplementation is done that severely limiting the amount of the supplement and choosing a delivery method that does not involve an artificial nipple can help with breastfeeding.

We already knew that.

The problems that I have with this study are this:

1- The study was done among mothers whose babies lost more than 5% of their birth weight. A 5% weight loss in FORMULA FED babies is considered normal. Breastfed babies typically lose 7-10% of their birth weight and this is normal. Red flags start going up at some point above 10%. At this point it is a good idea to look into why the baby is losing. Did mom have a c-section or IV fluids? A baby who is making a lot of wet diapers and losing a higher percentage might be shedding retained fluids. Does baby have a tongue tie that is preventing them from latching correctly?

2- The study does not show that FORMULA supplementation is beneficial to breastfeeding relationships, even if that is the claim. It shows that changing the delivery method and amount of supplementation is beneficial.

The way that supplementation is typically done is a large (2oz) nurser bottle of infant formula is fed to the baby using an artificial nipple. This creates nipple confusion issues and the “ease” of the feeding method can de-motivate mom from continuing to try to breastfeed if she is struggling to get a good latch.

3- This study is basically using the placebo effect in the form of formula supplementation in a group of mothers whose babies have no medical indication for supplementation (5% loss) rather than providing accurate information and breastfeeding support.
Formula supplementation preys on mothers who do not have enough information. This study is basically saying that should continue but that the amounts of formula and the method of delivery should be changed. 

The information from this study is EXCELLENT for situations where there is an actual medical indication for supplementation. Limiting the supplement and delivering it in a more breastfeeding friendly way will undoubtedly increase a mom’s breastfeeding success over traditional ways of supplementation.

However in situations where there is  no medical indication for supplementation women are much better served by education, access to lactation consultants, peer support, and doctors that are well educated in the norms of breastfeeding infants.

I find it extremely distasteful that a study is basically pushing a psychological band-aid on women that keeps them in the dark about what is normal and how to succeed without needing to be faked out by medical professionals that should be providing the best information and support available.

The study does NOT show that formula helps breastfeeding moms. The study shows that mothers who need to supplement or that believe they need to supplement are well served by less damaging methods of supplementation.

We knew that already.