Baby formula shortage galvanizes local mom network

About four week ago, Natalie Poma’s mother warned her there may be a baby formula shortage. Poma, a Dr. Phillips resident, has a 2-month-old, Elsie, who needs the Gentlease formula.

After speaking with her mother, Poma checked the stock at her local Target — all out. She checked a few more stores with no luck.

Eventually, she was able to find some — albeit the name-brand variant of the formula at more than double the cost. But as any parent knows, cost concerns pale in comparison to not being able to feed your baby.

“It’s very scary,” Poma said of the shortage.

However, in Poma’s case, through a strong network of friends and other moms, she has been able to acquire enough formula to last for a little while. And, she’s been able to return the favor, as well.

“I have a friend (from college) in Altamonte, and she said, ‘My doctor gave me samples of your formula; I can give you those.’”

In return, Poma was able to find the formula her friend’s baby needs, and they met to trade.

And later this week, when Poma’s older child celebrates her second birthday, some birthday guests who had been on the lookout for Gentlease will be bringing their finds along with birthday gifts.

Poma said she knows she’s fortunate; some moms can’t afford to stock up, and some don’t have a network like she does.

“When I was able to find it, I want to say I never took all of it,” she said.

Other moms need it, too, she said.

In similar it-takes-a-village mentality, one Winter Garden woman also is doing what she can to help her fellow moms.

Daffnee Cohen, mother to two daughters ages 5 months and 2, said the ongoing baby formula shortage has moved her to act.

“This literally makes me feel physically ill,” Cohen said of the shortage. “I just can’t imagine being in that situation. It keeps me up at night. … It’s such a gut-wrenching situation.”

In her time as a mother, Cohen actually has dealt with the opposite problem — overproduction.

“The irony is that I used to complain about it,” she said. “The truth is I don’t have to pump at all.”

After the birth of her oldest daughter, Cohen was able to stockpile thousands of ounces of breast milk. In fact, she had so much that she was able to help a friend in need after her older daughter had transitioned to solid foods.

Similarly, Cohen now has thousands of ounces stored and is willing to give some of them to another mom in need.

“I’m hoping I can help someone — even if it’s just a couple of bottles a day,” she said. “Just the thought of having a baby go hungry at 3 in the morning — I felt like I have to do something.

“I’m a pretty bootstrapping person,” Cohen said. 

“I just wish we could all be kinder; that’s just being a mom.”

For anyone in need, email Daffnee Cohen at [email protected].