Florida mom creates Facebook page to help parents in the search for baby formula

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (WPEC) — A Florida mom has started a Facebook page to help others find baby formula and breast milk amid the nationwide shortage.

Seven months ago, Elizabeth Negron welcomed her new baby girl, Olivia, into the world. The Port St. Lucie mom said her breastfeeding journey didn't come as easy as motherhood.

“I wasn’t producing enough breastmilk to feed her," she told WPEC.

Olivia's pediatrician put her on a special baby formula due to her dietary and digestive needs.

"At that time it was Enfamil Nutramigen, what she was on," she said. "But now she’s a little bit older, so she was able to switch to Gentle Ease, which is one of the hot commodities currently!”

Negron has gone to store after store, all sold out of the baby formula she needs. According to Datasembly, more than 40% of baby formula is out of stock in the U.S.

“Sam's, Aldi, Publix, Sprouts, Winn Dixie – you name it, I’m there," Negron said.

Since some stores don't have limits on how much parents can buy, she said she has seen people walk out with everything that was on the shelves.

With another baby on the way due in September, Negron needs help finding the baby formula. She's part of a national Facebook group, which inspired her to create one called "Baby formula buy, sell, trade Treasure Coast."

"If they find a can, they can post it," Negron said. "So it’s been nice that everyone is coming together because we are all in need, trying to feed our babies ... And absolutely, donor milk. If there is milk out there that a mama wants to give, you are more than welcome to post on the Facebook group."

"Do you think you would use another mom’s breast milk?" WPEC's Stefany Valderrama asked.

"Depending, if I know the mom really well ... [then] yes," Negron said. "But I’m just kind of concerned with Olivia's needs, as far as taking any medications, if they are consuming alcohol, what they are eating."

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not encourage the sharing of breastmilk, saying infants can be exposed to diseases, alcohol and medication.

Parents should call their OBGYN or pediatrician to see if they have in-office samples or can suggest a similar formula that may be more readily available in stores and is nutritionally similar to their infant’s typical formula.

Medical experts add parents should not water down the formula, try to make formula at home or use toddler formula to feed infants. Also, don’t discard the formula unless it is expired or is part of the recall. Check the formula’s lot code exit disclaimer icon to see whether it was affected by the recall.