Following the birth of our 7th child, I was advised (by three holistic medical practitioners) to stop breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum in order to facilitate healing for my own body. This was a very difficult decision for me to make, knowing that breast milk is best for my baby's brain development and immunity. I had breast-fed our other children until they were almost two years old. 

 

I spent countless hours researching the highest quality organic, European formula options available for import. I had two main concerns: the types of fats in the formula, and the bioavailability of the vitamins.

 

Our family carries the MTHFR gene mutation, which means that our bodies need a bioavailable form of folate--- we cannot process the synthetic form of folate called "folic acid."  (It is estimated that 40-50% of the population carries this gene mutation). Folate is CRITICAL to the brain development of the child. The challenge is that almost every single commercially prepared  formula in the world uses synthetic folic acid as the means of providing the necessary folate. With our family's MTHFR gene mutation, I knew that the lack of bioavailable folate (naturally occuring in breast milk) would have a serious effect on our baby's developing brain. To my knowledge, the only formula in the world that uses a bioavailable form of folate called "metafolin" is the HIPP Dutch formula and several other HIPP formulas. If the infant cannot absorb the synthetic vitamins offered in the formula, then the infant's brain is malnourished in its critical development. It is impossible to find a formula that offers bioavailable vitamins to mimic the composition of nutrients in breast milk.  

 

Most importantly, The baby's developing brain is formed almost entirely by fats, so the quality and quantity of healthy fats truly matters. The problem is that the fats in every canned formula are dehydrated, and most of them are highly inflammatory, rancid seed oils to substitute for the depletion of natural fats in the skim milk powder--- even if it is grass fed, organically sourced milk. Although the HIPP formula option gave me bioavailable folate, they only used skim organic milk powder and added a number of rancid seed oils to mimic the fat content and caloric composition of breast milk. 

 

I felt anxious, sad, and deeply troubled.  What was the right thing to do for our precious baby's brain? There was literally no commercially prepared  formula in the world that came close to the nutrition of breast milk. 

 

THEN THE LORD ANSWERED THE PRAYER OF MY HEART WITH AN OPTION THAT WAS THE NEXT-BEST THING TO BREAST MILK FROM A WELL-NOURISHED MOTHER....

 

MAKING HOMEMADE BABY FORMULA USING RAW COWS MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS, I WISH THAT EVERY PERSON NEEDING HELP TO FEED THEIR BABY WOULD LEARN ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE OPTION!!! This is infinitely superior to even the most expensive, European organic infant formulas shipped from overseas. Not only is it far superior on a nutritional level, it is also even less expensive!

 

This recipe allows for a true mimicking of the composition of breast milk due to the LIVING FATS, LIVING PROBIOTICS, and BIOAVAILABLE VITAMINS that are found in  God's creation.

 

Having finally discovered the BEST option available for our family, I was able to peacefully move forward.  I transitioned our 6 month old baby to the formula over the course of a month, slowly increasing/decreasing the ratio of homemade formula to expressed breast milk. Our baby did fantastic during the entire transition.  Her bowel movements remained regular and she exhibited no signs of fussiness or discomfort.

 

 It only takes me about 10 minutes each day to prepare the homemade formula recipe, using pasture-raised, raw cow's milk  and the addition of 12 other ingredients. If I ever need to travel, I prepare all the formula and store it in breast milk pouches that can be frozen/thawed like expressed breast milk. 

 

I was so overjoyed that I began to make the homemade formula daily for our beloved friends who have generously served as a foster family for infants placed in their emergency care. Their current foster son had already suffered so much trauma from drug abuse during pregnancy. He was irritable and not sleeping well. As soon as he began drinking the homemade baby formula, his temperament changed. He was happier, rested well, and he GUZZLED the bottles of milk down. All of his caregivers noticed a remarkable change. His foster mother then began making the formula daily for their precious foster son. I think about all of the children who are adopted or in foster care, whose little brains can greatly benefit from the homemade baby formula option. I pray more families learn about this incredible gift for their adopted/foster baby's brain development!

 

I also began to make the homemade formula for another family whose infant daughter was severely underweight. She was under the care of an entire team at Children's Hospital, and was being fed protein shakes and all sorts of foods that were attempting to help her gain weight.  After a few weeks of even partial supplementation with the homemade baby formula, this baby girl gained a considerable amount of weight--- because finally her little brain and body were getting healthy, living fats!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It is such an incredible gift to receive our pasture-fed, raw cows milk each week from My Dad & Me Family Farm. Our baby is thriving, peaceful, happy, well-rested, and delightfully chunky as a baby ought to be!!!!!!!! We couldn't be more grateful to have learned about making homemade baby formula. It is the best decision we have made for our baby, and it has made all the difference in the world for this mama's heart in the surrender of exclusive breastfeeding our precious baby.

 

If you cannot nourish your baby 100% through breast milk, please please PLEASE consider making this homemade baby formula. You only get one chance to nourish your baby's developing brain in the first year of life, so give that baby the gift of living fats, probiotics, and bioavailable vitamins!!!  

 

Thank you, My Dad & Me Family Farm, for the gift of your milk! We are forever grateful for God's provision through your hard work. 

 

Here's our sweet baby smiling to say thank you this Easter 2025!

 

God bless

Danielle Rose Hesley

 

Thank you all!

Daniel, Susan and Anna

David, Willie, Ellie, Heidi and Laura