#239 | The Cost of Breastfeeding Versus Formula Feeding with Dr. Rhonda Trust, PhD

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A 2023 article from Yale News flashed across news outlets in the United States headlined:

"Yale researchers find that breastfeeding can cost over $11,000 a year. " The article goes on to say, "While the 2022 baby formula shortage in the United States sparked calls for an increase in support for breastfeeding nationwide, a group of researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine sought to demonstrate how breastfeeding can impose significant financial burdens on families as well."

While there is no doubt breastfeeding is a major commitment and consumes a tremendous amount of time, there is also a significant cost of NOT breastfeeding, which failed to be discussed in the article.

In today's episode, we invited university professor and lactation expert, Dr. Rhonda Trust, PhD, to discuss the true costs of formula feeding versus breastfeeding. She explains that the Yale article misled the public and failed to name the protective health benefits for both mom and baby over a lifetime when breastfeeding is optimally supported, such as lower infant mortality and decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer for mothers. Drawing from her prior experience as the Policy and Advocacy Chair for the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, Rhonda also shares economic data from numerous research studies, demonstrating the direct cost savings are upwards of 14 billion dollars annually when 90% of babies are exclusively breastfed. 

Breastmilk is a free food source for every baby and saves infants' lives. While breastfeeding may not always be the right choice for every mother, breastmilk is the best choice for every baby. It is the job of public health officials and medical schools to share accurate and complete information regarding breastfeeding. In this episode, we discuss critical research that was either purposefully or unintentionally omitted from this article.

Yale News Article
No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: The Direct Marginal Costs of Breastfeeding
Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: Maternal and Pediatric Health Outcomes and Cost
Rhonda Trust on Instagram
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