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Why Breast Milk Sharing Is Booming Online
Filed under: Babies, In The News, Breast-Feeding
Despite a widespread push to breast-feed, the FDA warns against sharing unregulated breast milk. Credit: Getty
Specifically, they warn against sharing unregulated breast milk, citing the obvious dangers of infectious diseases, illegal drugs and prescription drugs being passed on to the baby. It's unlikely that the donor has been screened for such. In addition, there are potential storage and handling issues.
Given that millions of healthy babies drink formula (a complete, proven source of infant nutrition), it's safe to say that any potential ill effects from the breast milk substitute are negligible. That said, it's hard to imagine today's safety-obsessed moms feeding their children another woman's milk without comprehensive knowledge of where it came from. Hard to imagine, that is, until you consider how women who can't breast-feed must feel when they log on to an all-knowing parenting website or engage in playground conversation with those who consider breast-feeding an indisputable mommy must.
Then there's the concerted effort by several organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization to push the "breast is best" concept. In fact, WHO actually recommends "raw" donor milk
"If you make a choice to formula feed out of convenience, then you do not deserve to have kids!" said one poster.
"Every baby deserves human milk," said another.
Needless to say, new moms are feeling squeezed.
"If we formula feed, we feel we are giving our amazing children 'second best' or handicapping them for life," said one mother who admitted to sobbing in the shower from shame and guilt when she gave up breast-feeding.
Has the breast milk brigade of pushy peers, organization endorsements and calculated campaigns gone too far when a mother feels like unscreened milk is her only option to raise a healthy baby?
It's not hard to see how a mother could feel compelled to go to unsafe lengths to be sure her child is receiving the magical milk responsible for illness-free childhoods and supposedly above-average intellects. Considering milk from one of the 10 human milk banks in the U.S.
As natural as nursing may seem, many women don't produce enough milk, produce none at all or have extreme difficulty with the latching process. Add that to the possibility of a clogged milk duct or infection and, well, breast-feeding doesn't sound quite as beautiful as the La Leche League literature implies. On the other hand, some new mothers' cups runneth over. Eats on Feets donors claim they want to share their excess with those who need it most -- and often free of charge.
After all, in addition to being cheap and convenient, breast milk composition changes as babies grow to provide exactly what's needed for each stage of development. And it's not as if breast milk sharing is a new concept; the practices of wet nursing and cross-nursing (i.e. nursing a friend's baby) have been around for ages, though at least in those cases the mother knew the milk source personally.
To be sure, the women providing milk for use by families in need are probably not the same bunch shooting heroin while their kids play in the other room, and home-pasteurization by flash heating has proven successful in killing disease-causing agents. As another Internet poster put it, "Isn't it a little weird that culturally we don't think twice about milk from an unknown cow, but get grossed out at the thought of actual human milk." Hmmm ...
If nothing else, the popularity of breast milk sharing on the Internet likely spurred the recent meeting of the FDA's pediatric advisory committee
Breast milk is, without a doubt, a natural miracle, but with formula substitutes proven to nourish growing babies, women should renounce the guilt associated with using it -- and self-appointed mommy experts should stick to raising their own little angels. In the meantime, perhaps lactivists should devise a plan to accommodate the glaring need for more cost effective, regulated human milk banks. It would be a much more productive use of their time.
Blair Henley is a freelance writer based in Florida and a regular contributor to WorldTennisMagazine.com. Her non-tennis related work has been published in the Sacramento Bee, the Springfield News-Leader and on AOL News.
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 7)
1-25-2011 @ 11:46PM
Alicia said...No, you really don't. Following your view of what journalism should be, every article on Iran would also have to talk, in depth, about Israel. The focus of this article is on the dangers of unproven milk sharing and how the "breast is best" is increasing the chance that new mothers who can't breastfeed will turn to non-regulated sources of breast milk. If it were talking about the health trade-offs of formula, I wouldn't expect much attention to be paid to the dangers of milk sharing. It's not the focus of the article.
That said, pretty positive "inferior" formula is better for your child than exposing them to HIV, Hep B and other fluid-born diseases. If you believe the research (which I take with a grain of salt due to personal experience) I'm pretty sure that ear infections and allergies are better than a possible death sentence at six weeks. I've lost family to complications from AIDS. I wouldn't wish HIV on anyone or the mourning process that follows on their family, especially an infant whose parents would be at fault for being foolish enough to buy breast milk from an untested donor.
1-25-2011 @ 2:35PM
claire campbell said...This article is ridiculous and poorly thought out. "but with formula substitutes proven to nourish growing babies" You obviously do not know how formula is made! It's the FOURTH best substitute for a child. There is so much sugar, poorly digestible proteins and INSECTS in formula. One is feeding the child yourself, two is donor milk, three is making your own formula and four is store bought formula.
Breastmilk has antibodies, nutrients and a ton of good stuff for baby. What do you think wet nurses were for?
This article has some good points, but the FDA cannot control person to person sharing of breast milk and if they try to it will not go over well.
Also how many crack moms honestly breastfeed and then want to share their milk REALLY??
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1-25-2011 @ 4:52PM
Susan said...Maybe the crack mommies sell their milk to get money to buy crack??? Just a thought...you can't be too carefull these days. I wouldn't want to feed my child anything that was processed in an uncontrolled atmosphere, that includes being produced by a vounteer who's personal habits are unknown. Unless the FDA has certified that donor milk, I wouldn't want any part of it. As for insects being in food, do you have idea how many insects you ingest merely by breathing?
1-25-2011 @ 6:58PM
Julia said...When I donated breastmilk to my local NICU, they drug tested me, asked me what medicines I was taking, and asked me what my diet was before accepting my brestmilk. BTW I didn't get money for my milk, its a volunteer program. I'm sure other programs do the same thing. I breastfed 2 of my kids and its clearly the best thing for them. My oldest, the one I didn't brest feed, is sickly, struggles with school, and has a weight problem. My two youngest, I breastfed, don't have these problems. That's proof enough for me. Eat healthy and your milk will be great. If your low income, W.I.C. can help you.
1-25-2011 @ 2:34PM
johnsonbrown7777 said...What are they cows?
This is so sick, what is this world coming to.
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1-25-2011 @ 2:38PM
c said...You are what makes America look bad. Ill informed and rude.
1-25-2011 @ 3:49PM
SpiffyBex said...No, we are not cows. Because cows milk is not intended for human babies. It's intended for CALVES.
1-25-2011 @ 7:48PM
jake191218 said...I guess you have never heard of the term wet nurse. At one time women would hire another woman to nurse their baby. These women were called wet nurses. It was quite common for wealthy people to do this. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. I've been reading a lot about unsafe formulas, especially those containing soy. People need to do their research
1-25-2011 @ 9:03PM
ckelly229 said...NEW YORK, I just read your post and i agree with you 100%, babies sleeping with their parents and not ever sleeping through the night, the runny noses, skinny and pale. i see it all the time with especially one of my sisterin laws kids. they are 100% breastfed until way past toddler years and on top of that the whole family is organic, sickliest looking family i have ever seen. I am so sick of being attacked by these nut jobs for formula feeding my children. if they want to attack us then right back at ya's!!!
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1-25-2011 @ 2:42PM
c said...That is a very sad way of thinking, and honestly really selfish. You'd rather your kids be obese and eating mcdonalds and having a heart attack at 40? Breastfed babies sleep less because Breast milk is digested faster where formula digests slower. There is proven medical data that supports breast feeding over formula feeding for a reason.
However in the end it is the parents decision. I do not judge you for your choices and I do not expect to me judged for mine.
1-25-2011 @ 3:29PM
dixie said...c-just by your statement here, you certainly sound like you are judging. Children who are formula fed do not all end up being addicted to McDonalds, obese or are more prone to heart attacks, etc. These are things that happen as a result of how you are fed throughout your life, not just in your first year or two of life. My sister and I were formula fed and as it turns out we are both in top health and eat about as healthy as you can get-completely organic diet, nearly vegetarian. Our Mom is a formula fed baby, and an extremely healthy vegetarian. My own daughter was exclusively formula fed and never had a cold until she was almost 2.
1-25-2011 @ 2:37PM
laurie said...New mom's can hardly be blamed when they make the decision to give their babies unscreened breast milk. Our society and this cultlike approach to breastfeeding makes women who cannot produce enough breast milk feel like failures. Breasfeeding has become a big business and it disgusts me. I have been a lactation specialist for nearly 29 years, it is time to reclaim breastfeeding for what it is, give the right kind of support to maximize each individual woman's potential, and ease up on the many women who are unable to make a full supply. There are multiple reasons for this, and the fortunate women ought not to be judging those less fortunate, as breastfeeding encompasses more than just a breast, milk and a baby....
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1-25-2011 @ 4:21PM
LN said...Breastfeeding is big business?! Do you even understand what that term means? Breastfeeding is free. It's the companies producing formula that are trying to make a profit.
And yes, people who do give their infants formula should be ashamed. Have you all forgotten the incident a few years back with the tainted formula? Cripes! How can you live with yourselves while feeding your infants that crap? You don't even know what's in it.
1-25-2011 @ 4:34PM
Lynn said...No,LN, it is YOU that should be ashamed with that condesending, judgemental, narrow-minded attitude of yours. What part of, NOT ALL WOMEN can breast feed did you miss. I suppose it's hard to imagine anyone with a different attitude than yours while you're wearing blinders. And also, it is none of your flippin business, jack a@@.
1-25-2011 @ 2:37PM
johnsonbrown7777 said...So maybe Starbucks should just have a woman standing next to the counter and anybody that wants some cream in their coffee can just squeeze her boobs.
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1-25-2011 @ 4:30PM
LN said...Sure. Why not. I'd drink it. For that matter, I save a ton on milk for my family by expressing my own. I've been lactating for years with no ill effects. The trick is to take calcium supplements.
1-25-2011 @ 2:48PM
wen said...I nursed my daughter until she weaned herself at 14 months. It was not easy like everyone says. She was jaundiced and wouldn't latch on in the hospital and I felt awful having to give her supplemental bottles while she learned. Luckily she didn't have nipple confusion and went on to be a great nurser. We lived through that, then milk blisters---SUCKED!!!--then those wonderful baby teeth came on and she turned into a biter. I almost gave up, but stuck through it. I would encourage every new mom to make the choice that's right for her situation and her baby's.
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1-25-2011 @ 3:24PM
Walter said...My employer was located at 2 World Trade Center at the time of the attacks. I was manning the company's hot line on Saturday, September 15, 2001 when a call came in from a woman who started off by telling me thet this was a serious call. She said that she was from La Leche Society, and that she had women who were ready, willing and able to provide breast milk to babies who were being nursed but whose mothers were killed, injured or otherwise unable to nurse their babies. At first, it sounded like a joke to me, but after thinking about it, it all made sense. I don't know how any of this stuff works, but God bless those women for trying to help.
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1-25-2011 @ 2:56PM
MAlleNrOhSLVR said...here's an idea:
how about women keep their preferences to themselves, my mom breast and bottle fed my brother and I and while we're both active and spend a ton of time outside, my brother always got sick way more than I did growing up and while I've never had a flu shot I've never had the flu either! And I lived w/3 roommates who all had the swine flu last year and I never had so much as a sniffle!
Let parents make the best decision for themselves, a friend of mine couldn't nurse b/c she got a bad infection after giving birth and HAD to bottle feed and her son is now 3 and he's one of the healthiest most active little boys I've ever met and he's already reading and you should hear him talk! I've never met a smarter little boy!
People will give you their opinion if you tell them whether you breast feed or not so if you don't want that guilt if you formula feed and if you don't want their opinions, keep your baby-feeding practices b/t yourself and your baby
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1-25-2011 @ 3:07PM
jamie said...You cannot ignore science even if it offends you. Breastfeeding is a life style choice. It is not always easy. It requires so much from the mother so not everyone chooses it and that is ok. We should be lifting each other up instead of taking sides when it comes to caring for our babies. I take no offence when I see a mother feeding her baby formula. Unfortunately, I get stares and rude comment when I breast-feed my baby under a blanket in public. If you are so offended by breast-feeding perhaps you should evaluate why you have those feelings before attempting to shame the people do breast feed. I agree we need more regulation for shared breast milk but not rejection or judging of those who choose this path.
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