From the Archives

The subject of donor milk came up on a listserve for lactation professionals and it prompted me to dig out this old post, from 2011.

           Got Breast Milk?

        A recent discussion about donor milk got me pretty fired up this week. I applaud BWH for their use of donor milk, but I have some reservations about informal milk sharing. I wish the Globe article had mentioned the concerns around milk sharing and sites such as Eats on Feets (an online “bulletin board” for breast milk). Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a fierce proponent of breastfeeding - perhaps even a (gasp!) “Lactivist”, but trading breast milk via Craigslist is a little creepy. How do you know what that Mom is doing in her spare time? A couple of gin and tonics before dinner? A few tokes to relax? There are also viruses that can be transmitted via breast milk. HIV is the most obvious, but there is also CMV, a potentially lethal illness that can have few if any, symptoms. Proponents of human milk sharing say that human milk is best for babies, no matter where it comes from. There have been numerous formula recalls and I have yet to hear about a breast milk recall. However, there is a better solution: banked donor milk. I have volunteered with the Mother’s Milk Bank of New England and I can tell you that these folks are working tirelessly to provide a safe and viable alternative to formula for babies who cannot get their mother’s own milk.  I’m afraid that these informal milk sharers are sending the message that donor milk is too difficult and/or expensive to obtain. This is just not the truth. Most milk banks will not turn a mother away for inability to pay and in some cases, insurance will cover the cost.  Lactation professionals and breastfeeding allies need to educate and support mothers to nurse. When that is not possible, we can confidently encourage the next best option, banked donor milk.