Warning to all parents who use a homemade baby formula recipe for their children instead of feeding them toxic, GMO laced commercial formula.
DON’T tell a conventionally minded doctor it is made with raw milk else your baby might end up in foster care!
This is the nightmare Alorah Gellerson of Brooklin, Maine is experiencing right now because she made the mistake of telling her doctor about the homemade goats milk formula she proudly and carefully makes for her healthy, happy, three-month-old son Carson.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) quickly responded when the doctor reported Alorah and that’s when things got messy.
The state came in and threatened to take Carson away and put him in foster care unless Alorah followed DHHS orders to go and have the baby examined by a doctor. Â Unbelievably, DHHS also mandated an overnight hospital stay and a switch back to store-bought GMO commercial formula.
Despite complying with every single DHHS demand, Gellerson, who receives state benefits, is still being harassed with threats of foster care for her son. Â “I hope this all goes away. It’s been so terrible and hard on us. We’re just trying to live our lives and they keep bothering us. I just want it to be all over”, she said.
Tania Allen, Gellerson’s mother added,
It’s so frustrating. She’s a great mom. The baby has a great dad too and they love this baby very much and they would never do anything to hurt him and if we thought the formula was harming him, we would not do that.
DHHS refused to comment and instead directed inquiries to its website for the procedures they follow, one of which is from the USDA which states that goat milk is not recommended for infants because of inadequate quantities of certain vitamins.
Jack Forbush, DO, of The Osteopathic Center for Family Medicine in Hampden, Maine disagrees with the state saying,
 I don’t know what’s really driving it other than perhaps some different cultural belief system. I’ve got plenty of kids in my practice that have been given goat’s milk, for example, and they’re growing and developing fine.
The Weston A. Price Foundation concurs with Dr. Forbush’s assessment. Homemade formula from goat or cow milk is much better for baby than commercial formula as this chart listing the nutrients contained in goat milk formula illustrates.
State Violation of Parental Rights Becoming More Common
This is not the first time a parental judgment call regarding the health of a child has landed a parent in hot water with the State. Â This type of violation of basic parental rights is becoming more and more common.
Recall the story of Alex and Anna Nikolayev just a few months ago who had their baby forcibly removed from their home (with the entire assault captured on home video) simply because they took their baby to another hospital for a second opinion regarding their child’s heart condition. In both cases, the children were eventually returned to the parents, but not before much grief and stress were endured by the family.
References and More Information
Brooklin Mother Says State Not Happy With Her Formula Choice
Baby’s mother in trouble with state over homemade goat’s milk formula
USDA: Infant Formula Feeding
Camel milk baby formula
Homemade sheep milk formula
This is crap… when I was a baby, my doctor had my family put me on goat’s milk!
Blessings to that poor family. However, I’m not at all surprised by the reaction from that Dr. Allopathic physicians know the least about nutrition, but are most confident about their knolwledge, than anyone I’ve encountered.
I am so glad you are covering this story. Thank-you! I had a situation with my doctor threatening me with calling social services when my son was just a couple of months old at the most. He was not gaining very well and 22 years ago even with having the la leche league book at hand I just did not know what to do to fix my breastfeeding problems. If I knew then what I know now… In any case, apparently the doctor did not believe that I was following his advice and he most definitely had a prejudice towards obese babies. My advice to young moms being mistreated by doctors is to change doctors at the first sign of this type of doctor arrogance. If there is an indication that your doctor has no respect for you as a mom, you need to get out of dodge. I did this and it worked for me. Finding a new doctor right away may be just the ticket to having what you need to protect yourself if your old doctor does go ahead and calls social services after you leave his practice which many will not do. If you still need help after that, please consider calling a very pro-family legal group like HSLDA. I’m sure there are others groups that I’m not familiar with too. HSLDA has been known once or twice to take a case from someone who was not already a member and who may not even be homeschooling simply because it is their mission to protect families in our very not-free and not family friendly legal climate.
I was an intolarent child, could not drink milk, nor any of the patented formulas, nor even breast milk the only thing I could keep down was straight goats milk ((growing up in the country in the 60/70’s this was not a problem)
45 years later I eat like a goat, literally everything and in amazing varieties, I do not work out, I am am not particuliarly active at work or outside. I weigh the exact same as I did at 17 and do not have an ounce more body fat than I did when I was 10. Goats milk is the only real non human milk to go with the long lasting metabolic benefits alone are indescribably huge.
This is a bunch of bull! When my oldest daughter had trouble with formulas, goats milk was one of the recommendations by my pediatrician. I know lots of people who have fed their infants goats milk. I say it is time to move someplace else!!
DHS makes me sick. They go after good people and leave children with parents that are horrible.
Whaaaat? I tried goat’s milk and it was wonderful! Many of us Asians are known for being lactose intolerant and it was probably the only milk (aside from the lactose free ones available in the store) that didn’t destroy my stomach.
When my son was a baby we discovered he was very allergic to cow’s milk, and this is not an uncommon thing. His father had also needed goat’s milk when he was young. Our pediatrician instructed us to give him goat’s milk. It was very difficult to locate at the time and I could only purchase it at one particular farmer’s market. Now, it seems to be much more available which is a good thing. My son thrived and grew up to be a fine and strong man.
I’m the baby’s grandmother; if you would like to contact me, find me at Everyday Miracles Farm on Facebook! Thanks for your support!
This connection is why I love the Internet and this collection of blogs. Fantastic.
yes.. the internet what has emerged as the balancing factor to the .0001% who now control everything. Post/threads like this are what it’s all about. Pictures of your turtle etc are not. However, if that’s as deep as one’s brain/spirit goes, the internet makes no judgements. // Staying away from anything governmental in these times is, frankly, rather imperative. I certainly did with my kids. Conversely, I worked in social services and street work for years… foster parent as well. EVERYTHING can be ‘tweeked’. Keep your cards to your chest. Use the net to educate, advocate, share info. We used to say ‘power to the people’. Now, we have a means to deliver that power.
I went to your FB page. All I can say is, “WOW!” Beautiful pictures of health animals. Now I understand how the goats milk formula came to be. The doc and DHHS need to step aside and let you folks do what you know is best.
This is ridiculous! and really hate to ask the question, but….why oh why is this baby not being breastfed. You are on welfare and are not giving him the best and cheapest option available? This is my first thought, sorry:(
Nothing said about why she’s not breastfeeding. Possibly medical issues she can’t control,maybe a bad hospital experience, who knows. Not our business.
I will, however, take MUCH wrong with your assumption about ‘welfare’. The article doesn’t specify what state aid she receives. For example, I receive ‘state aid’ or ‘government benefits’. I do not receive ‘welfare’ (actually TANF, for the record). I get some food assistance (SNAP, aka ‘food stamps’), reduced rent in a HUD backed apartment complex, and my kids get Medicaid.
Now, in technicality, if I received reduced cost insurance through the state (CHIP and HIP where I am [Indiana]) that’s also ‘state assistance’ and could be listed under generic ‘aid in an article. All that is is between 20% and 80% of your normal premiums paid for by the state. CHIP, the kids version, in my state has an income limit well into ‘middle class’. You could make the same welfare assumption about someone who pays for 80% of their medical costs and all their other expenses because of your assumption that aid=welfare.
WIC also counts as state assistance. Normally between $80-$200/mo worth of VERY specific foods. The $200 side, btw, would be for formula fed infants.
I will guess, though, that she gets Medicaid. The income limit for pregnancy medicaid is about 200% of poverty level, and after you have the kid, you normally keep the medical coverage for 1 year to cover any post natal issues that arise and increase the chances that you, and the baby, go see a doc as needed. She may also receive food stamps and WIC, they tend to be pretty common for most people who are low to middle income for at least 6mos-1yr after a child’s birth.
So, welfare as you’re implying, IE, cash/TANF? Pffts. Good luck. I don’t know anyone who qualifies, and I’m poor. I have qualified for all of 3months of my 7+ years of having kids, and even then it’s not really worth it. 60 hours/week of volunteer work for $231 a month. Yeah, sorry, I’m not slave labor.
Just wanted to clarify for everyone, as it seems it is the subject of great debate on numerous websites in the comments section. Two things: Breastfeeding. She tried to breastfeed the baby. He was almost 7 weeks premature and in the NICU for his first week. Alorah was told by hospital staff that she must pump her milk and bottle feed the baby. We were concerned that he would not learn to latch on but they said that was an old wives’ tale. It turned out that we were right; when she brought him home from the hospital he still would not latch on and nurse from the breast. She tried for six weeks to get him to all the while pumping milk to feed her son. He grew and his appetite increased but her body would not make enough milk to supply his demand. We researched formulas but couldn’t find one that we felt was natural and safe enough. We have a small farm with our own goats and since we make EVERYTHING from scratch with mostly our own homegrown products, it was a natural choice as a solution. Secondly: welfare. My daughter was 17 and had no insurance. When she was pregnant she applied for MaineCare insurance to help her pay for the prenatal visits and birth. At her midwife’s urging, she also went on WIC. She no longer accepts WIC and is also taking herself and the baby off MaineCare and will be signing on with a medical sharing group to cover their medical costs. Since this has also become a subject of much discussion, I’ll also speak to vaccinations. She has chosen NOT to vaccinate her baby which has caused the first doctor she had (who reported her) to be very upset. And lastly, some people have made some terrible comments about them “sponging off the state and being lazy”. The baby’s father is a commercial lobster fisherman. He gets up at 3am and works out on the ocean on a boat all day in rain, wind, hot sun, fog, whatever the weather. He comes home at 5 or 6pm. I wouldn’t consider this lazy. They both believe that the baby should be raised by the parents and not by sitters or daycare. I am very proud of them for their strong family values and plans for raising their son. Thank you all for reading and for your support.
So glad your story was shared. We will be praying for the whole family. They chose life, obviously love their son and want what is best for him, and should be supported not threatened. May this end soon and you all be stronger for it.
Tania- They sound like AWESOME parents to me! Tell them to stay strong and we will keep the prayers coming!
Thank you for sharing this, grandma! I’m so terribly sorry your family is dealing with this- especially when they sound like lovely, responsible, educated people! I can’t believe some of the comments people are making… it’s just terrible. Sending lots of love, light and support to you all as you deal with this. I’m just shocked this is happening in MAINE! And shame, shame, SHAME on that doctor! A disgrace to the profession.
Thanks for filling in the blanks. News stories usually don’t cover them all. Glad the baby’s father is working. Being on state anything is the problem. It sure is expensive to have babies, isn’t it. Glad she’s getting off the state aid. find a good lawyer. Contact WAPF to get some help from them on all the research available for the health benefits of alternative formulas. It’s outrageous that this can happen today. It sounds like they’re doing most things right. Try to get a lactation consultant.. There are women who have begun lactation even with an adopted child. There is a chance for relactation. Do not give up. Why did you believe the hospital staff? They’re not trained for breastfeeding infants. They just learn how to stick pins and medicate the children. Of course there is a need. But you could have insisted to let your daughter nurse for a few minutes a day at some point. Hope you are finding peace in your home….
Lobster fisherman? Isn’t that one of the most dangerous jobs there is? I wasn’t sure what her situation was concerning breastfeeding; thought it might be a possibility, which is why I brought it up primarily so she and he could raise their child in peace. I did a paper on the subject, learning a lot in the process, but wasn’t aware it was probable a mother’s body might not be able to provide colostrum.
their need to be more parents in this country who give a damn about their kids in the way that these two do.
Here is your answer. Parents have a God given right to raise their children as they see fit.
Not in the Corporate Communist States of America…..one size fits all!
she has trouble breast feeding you should read the article before judging someone for what they do or do not do . not all women can breast feed contrary to many peoples beliefs . so .. deal with it .
The Bottom Line is that Goats milk is across the board better at everything Milk is suppose to do for a baby…but this is Cow country ((we all remember the history of the cattle ranchers vs the sheep ranchers…..)) you had Best get in line, eat your beef, drink your milk and Like it or you will be deemed pariah.
that is the exact same reason that while many other industrialized nations enjoy no less than 6 varieties of livestock including goose, goat, lamb, cow, pig, chicken, The Mighty USA enjoys only the big three backed by the FDA and made into a shambles of natural and modified genetic wasteland for our troubles.
Nat, there are other articles out there about this which tell that she did want to breastfeed and was also mistreated as a young mother by the medical establishment on that issue. Here is a quote from one source which may interest you, “I am outraged. I am outraged by a state and a system that punishes a young mother for making informed decisions about how to raise her child instead of following the status quo. I am outraged that this young mother started her parenting journey by being told by supposedly trained professionals that nipple confusion was a myth while her baby was being cared for in the hospital. This mother desperately wanted to breast feed knowing it was the best thing she could do as a mother and was not allowed to.”
I personally do not know the people in this news story and cannot attest to or verify any of this information. However, In my opinion, the moral of the story is that she should not have any interference from the medical establishment, nor from the government in these decisions. These issues are hers to face, to decide on and to live with. And I share the outrage of the person I quoted.
Thank Sheril,
I agree..it is her business. I am a Canadian, I see some of you Americans just make the assumption that everyone is from the US. We call gov’t support, welfare. We do not have all these sub-sections. Sorry to offend anyone.
You are rude to assume. I know this was years ago but I was going through the comments and it’s horrible how judge-mental some of the comments were after only reading one little article that tells about 15% of the whole story. There were circumstances that prevented breastfeeding but not after many tearful and heartfelt tries to do so. I hope in the last several years you’ve learned to not pre-judge other humans based on partial stories.
We do not take our children to physicians. We take their health seriously, too. A parent knows if a child is growing, eating well, sleeping well, eliminating well. Why subject your family to the intrusion of medical personnel who do not believe what you do regarding any aspect of health? We put that money into truly healthy choices for our family!
Exactly! I have yet to meet a pediatrician (or conventional doctor, for that matter), who understands what truly healthy food is. There is nothing “miraculous,” or even difficult about raising healthy children. Why involve doctors when they aren’t needed? As far as I’m concerned, well-baby and healthy-adult checkups are up-sale and frivolous!
Yep. We got tired of being threatened by various pediatricians years ago, and they weren’t even remotely helpful to us, anyway. We gave up on them and never looked back. Thank God for WAPF!
Same here, no pediatricians for us! Our kids are healthy and happy. We very rarely visit doctors, as I take care of everything I can at home using a wide variety of natural treatments. Eat healthy and do your best to avoid the poisons everywhere to support your body’s innate ability to stay well. If we do encounter a physical problem, I do my own research on things that will help. Medical care can be life saving in a catastrophic accident, etc, but general health is best maintained by taking good care of yourself via proper diet, hydration, rest, physical activity, and trying to live contentedly instead of stressed.
Guess you only had half the story; you talk here like you thought you knew what was going on.