WASHINGTON — When 32-year-old Sarah Noel left the hospital with her newborn more than a month ago, the hospital provided more than 30 ounces of special formula needed for her baby girl.

“At first it seems like you have a whole supply, but I would say probably, like, after a week, I (told her father), ‘OK, you need to go to the store. and when he went there, that is when he’s like, ‘I’m not seeing (it).’”

Her infant was discharged from the NICU on Similac NeoSure, which among others, is part of the nationwide baby formula shortage. While many women breastfeed their infants, others rely on formula for various reasons, which typically include, per the CDC, issues with lactation, concerns about infant nutrition and weight; a mother’s concern about taking medications while breastfeeding and unsupportive work policies and lack of parental leave.

While Noel agrees with health professionals that breast milk is the best option, she explained that a surgery she had last year hindered some of her hormones. She attempted breastfeeding but was only able to pump one ounce of breast milk in 24 hours.

”Now, although she’s still not eating a whole lot, she eats at least, I would say, about two ounces every two hours. So one ounce in 24 hours clearly is not going to take care of her nutrition or her hunger status,” Noel said.

And while the mother of three is fortunate enough to stay at home currently while her significant other works, she acknowledges other mothers who may have busy work schedules and other children, while juggling daily tasks in general.

”I commend any mom who can do that around the clock. But you know, even thinking about women who don’t have the opportunity to stay at home and have to get back to work, it’s hard to breastfeed. It’s hard to pump,” the south metro Atlanta resident said.

According to CDC, in 2017, only 25.6 percent of all infants born in the U.S. were exclusively breastfed through six months, with the average at 28.7 percent for white infants and 21.2 percent for Black infants. Overall, fewer Black infants (75.5 percent) are ever breastfed compared with Asian infants (92.4 percent), non-Hispanic White infants (85.3 percent) and Hispanic infants (85.0 percent), according to the CDC.

Infants in the Southeast are less likely to be breastfed at six months than in other areas of the country: Mississippi 18.1 percent; Alabama 20.4 percent; Georgia 22.1 percent; Tennessee 27.2 percent.

Noel, like thousands of parents around the country, has turned to social media groups to obtain and share information on where to access formula for their babies, with some group members offering to ship formula to parents in need.

”I’ve seen a lot of women who are so desperate because they can’t find it locally, that they end up spending their personal money and then they’re, you know, making posts advising others ‘Hey, I just spent my last I just got scammed out of my last $50. So it’s completely unfortunate,” explained Noel of other frantic mothers, typically those receiving WIC or are on a limited income.

Infants eligible for and receiving Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are less likely to ever be breastfed (76.9 percent) than infants eligible, but not receiving WIC (83.3 percent), and infants ineligible for WIC (91.6 percent).

President Joe Biden recently signed the Access to Baby Formula Act, which would allow those who purchase baby formula through WIC to purchase baby formula during a national recall, shortage or public health emergency. Currently, WIC vouchers for formula can only be used on formulas made by the manufacturer that holds the contract for that state.

“No parents should have to worry that they can’t feed their baby. That’s why we passed this legislation to help address this critical shortage of formula,” Sen. Jon Ossoff said.

Almost half of babies born in the U.S. receive nutritional support through the WIC program, though restricted on the type of formula they can purchase.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was one of only nine Republicans in the House who opposed the bill.

The Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act — which would provide $28 million in emergency funding for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to address the shortage and to prevent future shortages, including such steps as may be necessary to prevent fraudulent products from entering the United States market— was approved in the House 231-192, with only 12 Republicans voting in favor of funding $28 million for the baby formula shortage. It still awaits a Senate vote.

Greene was also among those voting against it in the House.

”It’s more control to the FDA, it’s more control to WIC. WIC is doing a good job…They are taking care of the mothers, the fathers and the babies who are the poorest in our country and need help,” Greene said in explaining her vote against the bills. “Those families are getting baby formula because there’s no limit on how much baby formula they can buy at the store. But the middle class is getting hammered again. Middle class mothers and fathers are the ones that can’t buy the baby formula. Middle class families are suffering.”

The House Committee on Education and Labor reports that 26 states have out-of-stock rates of 40 percent to 50 percent for infant formula; some states — Tennessee and Texas — have out-of-stock rates of 50 percent or higher.

The shortage comes after the Abbott Nutrition facility in Michigan voluntarily recalled several infant formula products, including Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare, in February 2022 and the FDA issued a warning to consumers not to use these recalled products.

The shortage is largely affecting low-income Americans, as about half of infant formula sold nationwide is purchased with WIC benefits.

WIC participation has been associated with improved infant health outcomes— including reduced infant mortality — and reduced disparities in hospitalization rates among Black and Latino infants, according to the House Committee. Abbott Nutrition’s formula products serve 89 percent of all infants participating in WIC, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service.

There are about 190,000 WIC participants in Georgia and an estimated 47,000 participants who receive benefits for formula.

The Georgia Department of Public Health urges parents unable to find baby formula to contact their pediatricians about appropriate nutritional and safe feeding alternatives.{/span}

”The FDA and American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourage using homemade formula. It could cause additional health concerns such as chemical imbalances, gastrointestinal distress, or allergic reactions,” Bill Christian of Tennesee Department of Health advised. “Also, do not dilute formula because this can lead to chemical imbalances that can be dangerous for an infant.”

Mothers who can breastfeed are encouraged to do so; caregivers can also substitute their usual formulas with several options if the infant is otherwise healthy. A substitution list, per TDPH, can be found.

WIC provided formula to just over 27,000 infants in February 2022, which is Alabama’s latest data.

”WIC routinely monitors recipient infant formula redemption in real-time, and redemptions remain within the usual range, at this time,” according to a state meant from Alabama Department of Public Health. “In response to infant formula availability, WIC has been allowing flexibility with participants, such as recipients purchasing another form of contract formula, allowing store returns and exchanges, and not fining vendors who are unable to maintain the federally required minimum stock of contract formula, due to supply issues. ADPH has requested infant formula waivers as outlined by USDA.”

Georgia consumers can report scams and suspect price gouging to the Consumer Protection Division by calling 404-651-8600.