Sharing breast milk has become a
controversial topic as breastfeeding becomes increasingly popular once again.
Although breast milk sharing has existed for centuries, in the form of wet
nurses, the way in which we are able to share breast milk has evolved with
modern society. The health benefits of breastfeeding are exponential (American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding Policy) and
providers are recommending that women breastfeed exclusively for the first six
months of their child's life and continue to breastfeed for at least the first
year (American
Academy of Pediatrics, 2012). However, there are cases where mothers are
unable to breastfeed due to a variety of conditions. Thus, instead of using
formula to feed their babies, many mothers would prefer to buy breast milk from
a breast milk bank or directly from other women. However,
milk from hospital-based breast milk banks where the breast milk is pasteurized
and screened is very expensive. This is why many mothers often turn to
purchasing breast milk online.
The
New York Times published an article last week based on a research study in Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics journal.
The study found that breast milk from online breast milk sharing sites is often
contaminated, which could lead to adverse infant health outcomes (Keim et al., 2013). Researchers discovered that the milk collected from
online breast milk banks was contaminated with high levels of bacteria, and in
two cases, salmonella (Bakalar, 2013). In some cases, this milk is donated; in other cases women sell
their milk for as little as $1.50 per ounce (Bakalar, 2013). There are only thirteen official breast milk banks in the
United States, and they sell the milk for as much as $6.00 per ounce (Bakalar, 2013). Since babies who are one month old need approximately
twenty-five ounces per day, many families are not able to afford this breast
milk for long (Bakalar, 2013). This is why breast milk sharing via the internet has become
popular. However, the New York Times article concludes that breast milk sharing
can be dangerous as one can never guarantee the quality of the breast milk.
However, Lamaze International published an article written by Suzanne Barston on their Science and Sensibility blog in response to the media's take on this topic. Barston (2013) recommends that parents and health professionals do not take extreme stances on this research. She questions the way in which the breast milk in the study was packaged and shipped, as this may have led to contamination. Barston (2013) suggests that we should try to improve the ways that breast milk is stored and shipped, as online breast milk sharing may still be a safe and affordable option for many women. It is also important for parents to form relationships with donors to develop trust.
Further, Barston
(2013) dislikes the
unfavorable way in which news articles have framed breast milk sharing. The
negative framework surrounding donor breast milk and formula makes mothers feel
guilty about whichever dietary choice they make for their infants. More
research should be done on cost-effective, safe, and accessible ways to share
breast milk.
Mary, this is a very interesting topic. I was not aware of the popularity of breast milk sharing and can understand how this is a controversial topic for people. I was looking more into this and found the Human Milk Depot of Ann Arbor (http://bfcaa.com/human-milk-depot-of-ann-arbor/). The website explains that an interview and blood test screening are done to help limit the share of any contaminated milk. I think that a local milk bank like this can be very beneficial for mothers who want their infants to have breast milk. Like you explained in your blog, I think there is still room for more research on the overall safety of this trend. I enjoyed the last section of your blog when you discussed how certain researchers looked at the negative way breast milk sharing was portrayed in the media. I think it is important for people to look into the research and weigh the risks and benefits from multiple credible sources before making a decision.
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ReplyDeleteI guess I live under a rock. I had no idea this existed. I am so glad you wrote about this Mary! I am very pro-breast feeding and I think that is a great idea to have milk available to those that cannot produce it, but that would get expensive at $6 per ounce for an infant feeding that much. I Googled 'breast milk for sale' and I was also able to see that you can donate milk or sell it to those mothers in need, based on location. Almost like a Craigslist for breast milk, but you would need the proper resources in order to find that person (i.e. the internet, transportation, etc). I can also see the potential harm that online breast milk shopping could cause such as fraud and contamination.
DeleteSince breast milk is easy to digest and key antibodies are provided, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first six months of life then with supplements for 1+ years. Regardless, according to an article in the Huffington Post written by Catherine Pearson, "only 49 percent of infants were being breastfed six months after birth, and only 27 percent were being breastfed at 12 months." It would be interesting to see how much of this contributed to a mother's inability to breast feed but lack of knowledge regarding other options for acquiring breast milk. I think this is a great option for women who are unable to breast feed but still prefer breast milk over formula. However, the practice must be regulated and proven safe in order to decrease the associated risk.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/breast-milk-safety_n_4124682.html
Mary, I think you touched on key factors that contribute to mothers not breast feeding their infants. Accessibility, cost and safety are important issues that must be addressed by health care professionals when counseling new mothers.
ReplyDeleteAnother option for mothers that can't afford breast milk from a bank and/or those who are worried about the quality of milk, is to pump and freeze their own milk during the first few weeks postpartum. This option gives mothers the comfort and security in knowing their child is receiving their own milk. According to KidsHealth (2013), breast milk can be stored in a contained freezer for 6-12 months at 0-4 degrees Fahrenheit.
For mothers that have difficulty producing enough breast milk, another option would be to network with friends that are also breast feeding. My sister had trouble breast feeding the first few weeks after her daughter was born but wanted to provide her baby with as much breast milk as she could. Fortunately, one of her friends was also breast feeding a newborn at the time and was producing more milk than her baby could consume! So, she froze the milk and offered it to my sister since she couldn't produce enough milk. While it may be difficult to recommend this for all mothers, it's safe and cheap, or in this case free!
I'm curious what the role of public health would be in providing education to new mothers in communities where breast feeding is not the "norm". Ultimately, it's the mother's decision but what can we be doing better to ensure that mothers have all of the facts and resources?
Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/breastfeed/breastfeed_storing.html
Mary, this is a very controversial and interesting topic. I have heard of sharing breast milk, but I have never heard of buying it online. I will be honest with you, I would not trust any other person with the life of my child. The research about the breast milk being contaminated with samonella is just terrible and I could not imagine if I were a mother what I would do in this situation. Breast feeding is extremely important, and a topic that nurses should not over look with talking with soon to be or new mothers. Web MD discusses how breast milk provides great nutrition for the baby because it contains vitamins, proteins and fats, which are the things your baby needs to grow. If women are able to breast feed, they should try.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/breastfeeding-9/nursing-basics