Of course formula gets stolen - kinda long

jaimevogt

So when I first saw Similac under lock and key at Wallgreens, my first thought was one of sadness. I was sad for the babies whose moms had to steal formula for them. Obviously a common occurrence since this was the only item locked up, aside from painkillers that are known to be used to make drugs.[Heard through this comment thread that formula is sometimes used to be cut with drugs, or it is stolen because it is resold/ returned easily]

I wondered why low-income women don't breatfeed more. I mean it?s free, and better for everyone. But after thinking about it I realized that I shouldn?t be at all surprised that moms are driven to steal formula. In fact it seems like it?s the natural consequence of the system.  

If you?re working in the service industry and you have a baby, how much maternity leave to you get? Probably without pay too. Probably only two or three weeks. Not enough time to establish your breastmilk supply. And have you tried pumping breatmilk the first 3 to 4 weeks? It HURTS. And you get next to nothing out. I couldn't really pump milk until 5 or 6 weeks, and that was with a madela hospital grade system and I really was only able to pump 4-5 oz.

So you have a woman who likely

*doesn't have a comfortable place to pump at work,

*hardly has any time to pump,

*doesn't have insurance that covers the rental of a nice pump so has to use a hand pump

*and starts pumping so early in her motherhood that its even more difficult 

The cards are stacked against her, even if she?s committed I can see her giving up quickly.

This just made me mad as I realized I have every luxury to be able pump at work, and just felt bad that the people who could benefit most from breastfeeding have so many hurdles to overcome as to make it almost impossible. Of course then end up with formula..which can be $200-$300 a month (depending on where you live) . How can they afford it.

Do you know of I women who don't have office-type jobs and are able to breastfeed?

AVandertulip11

I work in retail and we have our formula security tagged as well as in security fixtures because it does get stolen. I feel bad for those moms who cannot afford to buy their children food as well, but that's not the reason it is getting stolen. People actually come in to steal it and then return it in the store in order to get money or store credit. They then turn around and sell the store credit to another customer who will give them the cash for it.. It happens more than you think unfortunately.

honkytonk_kid

I'm an RN, so I'm on my feet running around for 12+ hours with hardly time to pee let alone pump.

HOWEVER, I definitely had the luxury of 10 months at home with LO, an expensive pump, 4 days off/week, and a supportive husband. I don't see how I could have done it if I was back at work at 6 weeks pp, pumping every 3 hours, and trying to work. It would have been awful.

Yeah. There are so many barriers to successful breastfeeding, and the thought of someone needing to steal formula breaks my heart =(

jaimevogt

AVandertulip11:

I work in retail and we have our formula security tagged as well as in security fixtures because it does get stolen. I feel bad for those moms who cannot afford to buy their children food as well, but that's not the reason it is getting stolen. People actually come in to steal it and then return it in the store in order to get money or store credit. They then turn around and sell the store credit to another customer who will give them the cash for it.. It happens more than you think unfortunately.

That's horrible. Wonder why formula is singled out for that kind of scam.  

jaimevogt

honkytonk_kid:

I'm an RN, so I'm on my feet running around for 12+ hours with hardly time to pee let alone pump.

HOWEVER, I definitely had the luxury of 10 months at home with LO, an expensive pump, 4 days off/week, and a supportive husband. I don't see how I could have done it if I was back at work at 6 weeks pp, pumping every 3 hours, and trying to work. It would have been awful.

Yeah. There are so many barriers to successful breastfeeding, and the thought of someone needing to steal formula breaks my heart =(

Wow yes nursing while *nursing* comes with a lot  of challenges as well. And that's with a professional career. Glad you had other benefits that made it easier. 

ss+el

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

itsmevkb

Just a thought, but it probably isn't mothers always stealing the formula. People steal things that have resale value. At my Walgreens the formula is locked up but so are the razor blades. Do you think people are only stealing the razor blades in order to shave?

I used to work in a shoe store and some of the sales ladies breastfed and pumped at work.  I actually think I would have had an easier time pumping at that job than in my current office job.

jaimevogt

ss+el:

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

Huh, you can use formula to make drugs? 

MammaBear81

jaimevogt:

AVandertulip11:

I work in retail and we have our formula security tagged as well as in security fixtures because it does get stolen. I feel bad for those moms who cannot afford to buy their children food as well, but that's not the reason it is getting stolen. People actually come in to steal it and then return it in the store in order to get money or store credit. They then turn around and sell the store credit to another customer who will give them the cash for it.. It happens more than you think unfortunately.

That's horrible. Wonder why formula is singled out for that kind of scam.  

Because for it's size it is expensive- they get "more bang for their buck" when they steal it.

AVandertulip11

It is terrible. I thought the same thing at first and felt bad for those that have trouble feeding their families. Then you have to thing, the government is there for those who truly need the help so families can eat. Formula is expensive and their thought is that if they steal formula, they can return it and say their baby didn't agree with it and most people would buy that story.... until management catches on to their games. It's very sad that some people will go to certain extents in order to get money for drugs. 

jaimevogt

itsmevkb:

Just a thought, but it probably isn't mothers always stealing the formula. People steal things that have resale value. At my Walgreens the formula is locked up but so are the razor blades. Do you think people are only stealing the razor blades in order to shave?

I used to work in a shoe store and some of the sales ladies breastfed and pumped at work.  I actually think I would have had an easier time pumping at that job than in my current office job.

 

I'm glad to know that some retail stores make it easy. Sorry it's difficult at your office.  

Netty_3

If they are low income, they may be able to get formula through WIC or may be on medicaid that does pay for hospital grade breastpump rental. Or so I was told when I was assumed to be on it because I'm brown...but I digress.

Reilly626

I won't buy formula from stores where it's locked up like Walmart, I'm not a criminal! I go one store down to Target where it's on open shelves.

MomtobeNJ

Reilly626:

I won't buy formula from stores where it's locked up like Walmart, I'm not a criminal! I go one store down to Target where it's on open shelves.

I don't understand this logic. Of course you're not a criminal if you're buying it. You're offended that it's locked up because other people steal it?

I agree that it's probably because of the resale value. People sell lots of 6 - 10 cans of formula on eBay all the time and they go like crazy. Not saying all of them are stolen...just using that as an example of the high demand. 

cedenton

Formula is covered by WIC so there's really no excuse to steal it.  I think your points about why they don't BF are good, though. And the fact that formula is free for them makes it less of a reason not to use it and try to BF.

My husband was getting mad when in line at the store to buy formula when a lady was buying like 10 cans all covered by WIC.  But, while I often agree that many of these programs are abused and need restructured, I had to disagree with him.  All that mattered was that a baby was getting fed.

ASmallWonder

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

jaimevogt

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

Huh? Who am I judging? Maybe I'm judging certain franchise owners for not making BFing easier on new moms, but not the moms themselves.

JulyMomma2U2

I agree -- formula is being stolen for other reasons outside of "mom's who can't afford to feed their children".. but, I'd also like to point out to OP that not all Moms are able to breastfeed.. regardless of economic status.  As much as I would have loved to breastfeed my DS, it didn't work out.  And, several others I know were also unsuccessful.  Just because you're "hard up" for money doesn't mean your liklihood for success with BFing will be higher....

MomtobeNJ

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

I think it's kind of sh*tty to point out that there is misinformation and not correct it.  

mrsseguin

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

This.  I exclusively FF...I never spent $400/month on formula.  I don't think I ever spent $200 on formula and we used Enfamil.  

ss+el

jaimevogt:

ss+el:

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

Huh, you can use formula to make drugs? 

Supposedly. Can't remember who told me that (so can't even guess at the reliability of my source) and it was a while ago, but I guess you have to have a base of some kind? 

That being said, yeah, I do actually agree there probably are moms out there stealing it. I have noticed I've seen small cans locked up but not large ones.

jaimevogt

mrsseguin:

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

This.  I exclusively FF...I never spent $400/month on formula.  I don't think I ever spent $200 on formula and we used Enfamil.  

Okay I will edit to reflect a smaller amount. Still it's expensive, but the post certainly wasn't meant as a rally against formula. It is pricey though, I don't think you can argue that. What I buy is $30 for 25 oz, which I imagine we'd go through 2 maybe 3 a week if that's all he was eating. Thus my ~$400 guesstimate.  

itsmevkb

Netty_3:

If they are low income, they may be able to get formula through WIC or may be on medicaid that does pay for hospital grade breastpump rental. Or so I was told when I was assumed to be on it because I'm brown...but I digress.

Well, if it will make you feel any better, my husband and I were told the same thing easily 20 times and we're white.  We were also asked if we needed a car seat or crib. At some point I said sure, sign me up, and then they found out I was employeed as was my husband (and made too much money) and well, that ended that.

littlestjerry

jaimevogt:

ss+el:

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

Huh, you can use formula to make drugs? 

Drug dealers use it to cut their drugs, it's not used to make them though. 

ETA: In case that wasn't clear, that's why they're locked up. Because they'll shoplift the formula.  

cecilyandgautam

My friend worked for WIC and was on it for years. According to her, the amount of formula disbursed to WIC women doesn't cover the full amount a normal baby needs, so it's kind of like food stamps: it's a subsidy, but not a full ride. WIC clients can also get medela pumps and access to lactation consultants - they choose whether to breastfeed or get formula. 

I never had to buy formula, thankfully, but I doubt that it costs 300/month if you're just getting the standard stuff. The big Similac can is like $33 and based on what it says on the label, I think that would last around a week - is that reasonable? So more like 120-150/month. Alternatively, you could get the gigantic tub of generic formula at Costco. Now, if your baby requires the extra sensitive kind, I can see how that would add up to more than 200/month.  

And I can totally see why formula get stolen. I've received several full size canisters of formula as promotional "samples" in the mail - somehow I ended up on a list - and I can return the ones that don't say "sample" on them without a receipt to Target and get store credit. Even just two canisters add up quickly.  

outnumbered

EAMartin1004:

jaimevogt:

ss+el:

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

Huh, you can use formula to make drugs? 

I was thinking the same thing...  But I do know that is why certain cold medications are locked up and you have to be ID'd to buy them where I live.

Formula is not used to make drugs it is used to cut illicit drugs.  It is also stolen to be sold.  It is a big business.  It is not typically stolen by a low income mother struggling to make ends meet. 

mexicolombiana

outnumbered:

EAMartin1004:

jaimevogt:

ss+el:

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

Huh, you can use formula to make drugs? 

I was thinking the same thing...  But I do know that is why certain cold medications are locked up and you have to be ID'd to buy them where I live.

Formula is not used to make drugs it is used to cut illicit drugs.  It is also stolen to be sold.  It is a big business.  It is not typically stolen by a low income mother struggling to make ends meet. 

This.  

jaimevogt

outnumbered:

EAMartin1004:

jaimevogt:

ss+el:

It's not the moms stealing it. It's the amateur drug manufacturers.

Huh, you can use formula to make drugs? 

I was thinking the same thing...  But I do know that is why certain cold medications are locked up and you have to be ID'd to buy them where I live.

Formula is not used to make drugs it is used to cut illicit drugs.  It is also stolen to be sold.  It is a big business.  It is not typically stolen by a low income mother struggling to make ends meet. 

Interesting. Well you learn something new every day. 

jaimevogt

itsmevkb:

Netty_3:

If they are low income, they may be able to get formula through WIC or may be on medicaid that does pay for hospital grade breastpump rental. Or so I was told when I was assumed to be on it because I'm brown...but I digress.

Well, if it will make you feel any better, my husband and I were told the same thing easily 20 times and we're white.  We were also asked if we needed a car seat or crib. At some point I said sure, sign me up, and then they found out I was employeed as was my husband (and made too much money) and well, that ended that.

Yeah they asked us about WIC so many times I tried to sign up. Sounded great! But turned out we didn't qualify. So I think they ask everyone. It was even on the forms we fill out.  

rachboston60

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

 

Yeah.  I'm not liking the whole tone of this post.  The OP said "I wondered why low-income women don't breatfeed more. I mean it?s free, and better for everyone."  Well, my response to that is, (at the risk of sounding snarky)  stop wondering.  Its really none of your business.  I'm not poor (by most standards), I have a job where I could have pumped, and I was an exclusive formula mom.   The tone of this post implies that there is some "reason" poor women use formula, and that we should feel sorry for them.  Maybe I'm mis reading the tone, but thats the feeling I get.   Formula feeders, regardless of their income level, don't need a "reason" to formula feed.  

ASmallWonder

kbruington:

MomtobeNJ:

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

I think it's kind of sh*tty to point out that there is misinformation and not correct it.  

Ditto. Tell us what's up if this is all wrong.

What's wrong in the post had been addressed already so I didn't repeat but: that formula is stolen by poor people, that duh, of course "those"  people formula feed because they probably have a job that doesn't allow them any other option, thereby implying anyone with the option absolutely should BF, that formula feeding costs $400 a month and then we've got the person whose husband was annoyed by the person buying 10 cans of formula on WIC.  The whole post just left a bad taste for me. 

jaimevogt

elmoali:

kbruington:

MomtobeNJ:

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

I think it's kind of sh*tty to point out that there is misinformation and not correct it.  

Ditto. Tell us what's up if this is all wrong.

What's wrong in the post had been addressed already so I didn't repeat but: that formula is stolen by poor people, that duh, of course "those"  people formula feed because they probably have a job that doesn't allow them any other option, thereby implying anyone with the option absolutely should BF, that formula feeding costs $400 a month and then we've got the person whose husband was annoyed by the person buying 10 cans of formula on WIC.  The whole post just left a bad taste for me. 

Mmm maybe you should read the post again. I think you mistook empathy and genuine respect for hard-working moms as some kind of judgment.

This makes sense since you seem to have more practice at the latter. 

But I also learned today that people will read what they want to read in a post, if they want to read that someone is going off on how BFing is the only way to go then that's what they'll read. Which is funny since I'm not an even EBFer, LO gets formula too as a supplement.

I'll admit my subject line was a bit incendiary, but I stand by my original sentiment which is this

Women who WANT to and CAN breastfeed, and their bodies and babies are cooperating, should have access to the following 

- enough maternity leave to establish milk supply 

- a good, efficient pump to rent at a reasonable cost

- a place to pump

- and time to pump.

BM is also free.

I honestly don't see how anyone can argue with this point, but again, you read what you want to read into it.  

ASmallWonder

jaimevogt:

elmoali:

kbruington:

MomtobeNJ:

elmoali:

There is sooo much judgement and mis-information going on in this post. 

I think it's kind of sh*tty to point out that there is misinformation and not correct it.  

Ditto. Tell us what's up if this is all wrong.

What's wrong in the post had been addressed already so I didn't repeat but: that formula is stolen by poor people, that duh, of course "those"  people formula feed because they probably have a job that doesn't allow them any other option, thereby implying anyone with the option absolutely should BF, that formula feeding costs $400 a month and then we've got the person whose husband was annoyed by the person buying 10 cans of formula on WIC.  The whole post just left a bad taste for me. 

Mmm maybe you should read the post again. I think you mistook empathy and genuine respect for hard-working moms as some kind of judgment.

This makes sense since you seem to have more practice at the later. 

But I also learned today that people will read what they want to read in a post, if they want to read that someone is going off on how BFing is the only way to go then that's what they'll read. Which is funny since I'm not an even EBFer, LO gets formula too as a supplement.

I'll admit my subject line was a bit incendiary, but I stand by my original sentiment which is this

Women who WANT to and CAN breastfeed, and their bodies and babies are cooperating, should have access to the following 

- enough maternity leave to establish milk supply 

- a good, efficient pump to rent at a reasonable cost

- a place to pump

- and time to pump.

BM is also free.

I honestly don't see how anyone can argue with this point, but again, you read what you want to read into it.  

This wasn't directed all at you.  I get what you're saying about people who don't have the luxury of BF'ing if they want to.  I honestly do.  But your first instinct was to assume it was lower income mothers stealing, when it rarely is. Someone else later made an assumption that these mothers buy the formula and resell it for drug money (vs the more accurate case of actual drug dealers stealing it) and again, the woman whose husband was annoyed by the person on WIC buying 10 cans, which I honestly still don't get.  And also the person who said that because low income mothers can get formula for free, they are less likely to try to BF.  Of course any of these things could be true for SOME people but the statements were too sweeping, IMO and felt very targeted and as the thread went on it became much less about your original intentions of pointing out the challenges of being a BF'ing mother with a less than supportive job.

pitterpatter129

I live in a big city, but I've never seen any of these items locked up!! ...formula, razor blades...  Wow.  We are something like the "meth capital" though, so I guess our drug dealers don't need formula.  Antihistamines are locked up.  I do think it's sad that any working mom who chooses to breastfeed often has a lot of hurdles to jump in order to make it happen.  I have a nice salaried job as a teacher, but it's certainly difficult to pump in a school with no walls, no coverage for my class, and we eat lunch with the kids - so no break until 2:00 last year, not even to use the restroom.  No matter who you are, sometimes your work place doesn't agree with your feeding choices!

 

 

Reilly626

amy052006:

MomtobeNJ:

Reilly626:

I won't buy formula from stores where it's locked up like Walmart, I'm not a criminal! I go one store down to Target where it's on open shelves.

I don't understand this logic. Of course you're not a criminal if you're buying it. You're offended that it's locked up because other people steal it?

I agree that it's probably because of the resale value. People sell lots of 6 - 10 cans of formula on eBay all the time and they go like crazy. Not saying all of them are stolen...just using that as an example of the high demand. 

Ditto this, and its not just formula.  Razor blades are a huge one too -- small, easy to steal, high return either as resale or a return for cash. 

try shopping with twins and getting a couple cans of formula- we use a can every 2 days! i want to be in and out and not asking some ex-gang member at Walmart to unlock the case to get it for me. (You can tell I dislike Walmart!) they don't even carry my brand. 

MomtobeNJ

Reilly626:

amy052006:

MomtobeNJ:

Reilly626:

I won't buy formula from stores where it's locked up like Walmart, I'm not a criminal! I go one store down to Target where it's on open shelves.

I don't understand this logic. Of course you're not a criminal if you're buying it. You're offended that it's locked up because other people steal it?

I agree that it's probably because of the resale value. People sell lots of 6 - 10 cans of formula on eBay all the time and they go like crazy. Not saying all of them are stolen...just using that as an example of the high demand. 

Ditto this, and its not just formula.  Razor blades are a huge one too -- small, easy to steal, high return either as resale or a return for cash. 

try shopping with twins and getting a couple cans of formula- we use a can every 2 days! i want to be in and out and not asking some ex-gang member at Walmart to unlock the case to get it for me. (You can tell I dislike Walmart!) they don't even carry my brand. 

Wow. 

JWSchwarz

I've never seen formula locked up. Maybe just the neighborhood you are in.
IF low income women BF more, and i am not saying that is true because i've never read a study that says that...it's more likely to be due to lack of education on the subject than it is job related. That could be a factor, but i have to agree this post seems a little condescending. I also know women who work full time in cushy office jobs self included are the LEAST likely to BF long term.

littlestjerry

MomtobeNJ:

Reilly626:

amy052006:

MomtobeNJ:

Reilly626:

I won't buy formula from stores where it's locked up like Walmart, I'm not a criminal! I go one store down to Target where it's on open shelves.

I don't understand this logic. Of course you're not a criminal if you're buying it. You're offended that it's locked up because other people steal it?

I agree that it's probably because of the resale value. People sell lots of 6 - 10 cans of formula on eBay all the time and they go like crazy. Not saying all of them are stolen...just using that as an example of the high demand. 

Ditto this, and its not just formula.  Razor blades are a huge one too -- small, easy to steal, high return either as resale or a return for cash. 

try shopping with twins and getting a couple cans of formula- we use a can every 2 days! i want to be in and out and not asking some ex-gang member at Walmart to unlock the case to get it for me. (You can tell I dislike Walmart!) they don't even carry my brand. 

Wow. 

Yes, wow, to this whole quote tree.

And to the bolded: That's certainly not very nice.

MammaBear81

christel811:

Formula is still expensive and has become a black market item.  For some reason, in my area people were stealing Tide and they were thinking about security coding that.  It?s just what the black market demands.

Apparently Tide is/was being given in exchange for drugs.. I didn't look too much in to the article I read, but that was the jist... it wasn't "low income people" stealing it so they could do laundry... it really is crazy what goes for the high dollars on the black market!