Is it true

[dewoman81]

that breastmilk can be low in vitamins and minerals? MIL was trying to tell me that there are times when it is more nutritious to give formula. Is there anyway this is true?

[jessiehannan]

that is never true!
Even if your diet is lacking, you body takes what it needs from itself to make the milk good for baby.

[Nipple_nectar]

Nonsense. Otherwise, women in third world countries might as well all stop nursing?? Some formula companies will have you believing that with their propaganda.

[ima062002]

Where did she read that? On the back of a formual can? You'd be hard pressed to find a woman in the Western world who is deficient in vitamins and minerals. Even with the crappiest diet people here get a good enough diet in terms of nursing. Most of the processed foods are enriched.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins.html if your MIL wants to learn something.

Formula is fashioned after breastmilk. All formula makers are trying to copy bm and they are doing that but poorly since we don't 100% understand bm yet. One thing is for sure; formula is a dead liquid, while bm is dynamic, ever adapting to a baby's needs.