Mothers across the country are struggling to find baby formula. With the baby formula out-of-stock rate climbing to 40% last month, parents are worried about finding the next meal for their babies. Beyond the short-term nightmare, this unprecedented shortage could affect parents’ plans for future pregnancies.

Many American babies rely on formula to thrive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breastfeeding Report Card, 19% of breastfed infants born in 2017 were supplemented with infant formula before 2 days of age. That year, less than half of babies were exclusively breastfed through 3 months. Only one in four were exclusively breastfed through 6 months.