Exactly. You can't just start breastfeeding if your milk has dried up. For almost all babies on formula, their mothers milk has dried up or they couldn't make milk to begin with.

There are very few that truly can’t produce enough milk. Usually it because breastfeeding was sabotaged in the hospital and got off to a wrong start by the advise of incompetent labor/delivery and postpartum nurses, and pediatricians. Here are some reasons for failure: Formula is advised, so mother can sleep or mother wants formula given so she can sleep; Improper latch is thought to be proper by nursing staff-if latch is painful or weak, something is wrong; interference by family-telling mother, “baby is hungry, give a bottle“; mouth anomalies affecting latch-cleft lip or palate, tongue tie, nerve trauma at delivery, jaw structure (Pierre Robyn Syndrome) to name a few; maternal health issues (hypothyroidism, PCOS, hormonal issues, excessive blood loss at delivery, obesity and diabetes); Covid shot impacting supply-maybe unsafe anyhow to breastfeed if the Covid shot was taken, we don’t know; early birth control (containing estrogen).

In regards to not wanting to nurse, not liking to nurse, family or sitter is caring for the baby, or to busy a work or social schedule, these are excuses which can be worked around by pumping with a quality pump. Any amount of breast milk given is better than none at all. In times of crisis, like now, with limited formula supplies, families have little choice. When making a decision on how to feed, ask yourself “Do I trust formula companies, i.e. Big Pharma?”, because they are one and the same. Formula fed babies have a higher rate of childhood leukemia, ear infections, colds, etc. Breast milk provides important antibodies to protect young, underdeveloped immune systems, is cost effective, readily available (right temperature and right amount), and provides the emotional bond important for moms and babies. There are few cases of babies truly allergic to mother’s milk. Often this is a misdiagnosis by pediatricians and gastroenterologists who don’t want to expend time getting to the root of the problem.