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Sharing Breastmilk Is Dangerous, Docs Warn
Is sharing breastmilk a good idea?
For several months last fall, the chest freezer in my basement became an unofficial milk bank. Four different women I knew had babies. Two were in NICU, one had other issues that interfered with nursing.
So the mamas pumped milk. They pumped gallons of milk. One pumped so much milk the hospital where her daughter was staying couldn’t store it all anymore.
My freezer started to fill up with little bags of breastmilk. I’d have been a perfect candidate for Eats On Feets, an international movement to help new moms share breast milk.
A Canadian mom recently started several chapters of Eats on Feets in Canada. The group uses Facebook to connect moms with low milk supply to moms with a milk surplus stashed in their freezers.
This sounds like a huge win for everyone involved. There’s just one problem. Health care professionals are warning that the practice could be dangerous for babies.
The Vancouver Sun reports that Canadian doctors have issued a warning against sharing milk.
They’re not opposed to breastfeeding. Far from it; these doctors know breast is best, especially for vulnerable babies like preemies. What they’re concerned about are safety issues with moms sharing milk at an amateur level.
The moms who used my freezer not only swapped stored milk for each other’s babies, many of us also nursed each other’s babes. I’ve given birth to two babies, but breastfed half a dozen at some point. Most of the nursing mothers I know are happy to nurse each other’s kids. It gives the babies exposure to a new set of antibodies for building strong immune systems, and gives mom a reliable babysitter who she knows is feeding her baby the best food there is.
But we’re a close-knit group of friends. Expanding it to a wide network on Facebook, it’s easy to see where these doctors concerns are coming from. Breastmilk can be contaminated with HIV or other viruses. It can carry trace elements of medications and alcoholic beverages. And, perhaps most likely to be a problem, if stored improperly it can be infected with bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Sharing milk is a great idea, but with no controls on the quality of the milk or how it’s pumped and stored, you don’t really know what your getting.
Health professionals would like to see women using accredited milk banks instead. But those are few and far between. For moms without access to a milk bank, Eats on Feets at least offers them an alternative to formula.
Would you use Eats on Feets, or another milk-sharing service? Is mystery breastmilk still better than formula?
Photo: Editor B
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28 Comments
Meagan commented on Nov 30 10 at 3:03 pmIs mystery milk possibly contaminated with life threatening diseases still better than the known-to-be-safe formula? Gee that is a tough one.
I plan to breast feed. If I can’t, I’ll feed my baby perfectly safe formula with the confidence that he or she will end up just as well as all the completely healthy formula fed children I see every day, like my beautiful nieces or, let’s see, most of MY generation.
Asha commented on Nov 30 10 at 3:29 pmEats on Feets is hardly mystery milk. At least in the Virginia chapter. I’m donating to a friend of a friend through EoF whose 1yo has allergy problems. Like other groups, facebook serves EoF as a networking device. It’s up to moms to discuss standards and become comfortable with each other. For example, I take no medications and am not at risk for HIV – because of pregnancy I’ve been tested several times recently. And I’m willing to show moms I donate to my medical records or whatever. EoF is basically a slight expansion of a close knit group, where someone knows you and can vouch, and, if not, we meet up, get to know each other, and keep our babies strong together.
Julia @ http://notlikeacat.blogspot.com/ commented on Nov 30 10 at 6:34 pmMeagan, a lot of formula has been recalled lately, right? Bug parts and other contaminants? Breastmilk from a screened stranger can’t necessarily be more dangerous.
Meagan commented on Nov 30 10 at 6:49 pmUnless I’m misreading, she’s not talking about screened strangers. Just strangers. I’d prefer bugs to HIV, but yes, there have been some concerning news and recalls about formula in recent years. Melamine in particular. I just think we put a little too much on the “breast is best” thing. Sure it is. But sometimes it doesn’t work out. And the ANYTHING but formula theme kind of gets to me. Woman who have struggled and struggled and ultimately been unable to breastfeed don’t need the extra guilt. If I can’t breastfeed, I refuse to feel like a monster for turning to formula.
Jennifer commented on Nov 30 10 at 8:03 pmBreast is not best, just normal, formal isn’t as good and doesn’t do all the amazing things nature designed our milk to do. and for the HIV issue, if you flash heat/treat the donor milk you kill the virus. Also, if I’ve screened the donor and they don’t have HIV or anything else wrong with them AND I treat the milk, I’d say that’s better than bugs AND METAL SHARDS IN MY BABIES bottle! I <3 Eats on Feets. Best milk sharing idea ever!
Kim commented on Nov 30 10 at 8:04 pmHow come whenever someone doesn’t want to use formula, or mentions facts about breast milk, it becomes about formula-feeder’s guilt? Oh, don’t mention the stem cells, or the anti-bodies, it’ll make formula feeding moms feel guilty. Don’t talk about the risks associated with formula, moms will feel bad. We don’t have a problem making moms feel guilty for anything else that they may be doing that could be harmful to their children.
Also, calling it “mystery milk” is very misleading. Women meet each other, most are screened and moms can pasteurise the milk at home if they wish. Mystery milk is milk from who knows how many cows from who knows where with who know what diseases, all pooled together, powdered, fortified and sold as infant formula.
Holli commented on Nov 30 10 at 8:12 pmMeagan, congrats on your pregnancy and best wishes to you and your breastfeeding journey. I have to admit, I laughed out loud at your term “mystery-milk”…to me that is the perfect term for formula! ;) Because what is it, really???
Tara commented on Nov 30 10 at 8:59 pmComments Meagan, does not most of OUR generation have health problems, such as obesity and high cholesterol, ect.?
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Nov 30 10 at 9:34 pmI believe the melamine issue was in China. But I like your points, Megan. Congrats on your pregnancy!
Linda, the original one commented on Nov 30 10 at 9:54 pmMeagan, I predict that you’ll breastfeed for about 10 minutes. Be sure to let us know how that turns out for you, okay? I’ve nursed friends’ babies and had them nurse mine and we’ve all shared pumped milk, however, these are people I know really, really well. I’m not sure how comfy I’d be with a stranger, even a stranger who provided medical records, but that’s just me.
Meagan commented on Nov 30 10 at 10:11 pm@Kim I don’t think it necessarily does. I have to admit my hackles were raised over one line in particular: “For moms without access to a milk bank, Eats on Feets at least offers them an alternative to formula.” It’s very innocent sounding, but to me it just emphasizes formula=evil. I agree there are some problems and scary issues with formula. I just know too many people who’ve struggled to breastfeed and been made to feel like villians when they ended up resorting to formula. One friend forced herself to continue breastfeeding through the immense pain of repeated infections… her baby wasn’t gaining weight, but she persevered until the day her baby started vomiting blood. The baby was ok (and is a totally healthy 8 yr old now) but it turned out she wasn’t getting any milk at all… Just blood and infected fluid. She switched to formula. To me, the question above implies: “isn’t it better to use a stranger’s milk (that is PROBABLY not infected with HIV or some other horrible disease) than the dreaded formula?”
BTW “mystery milk” was not my insinuation. It’s pulled directly from the last sentence of the post.
@Tara… Yes… And there are about a thousand reasons why that have nothing to do with formula.
@Mistress Scorpio It was, but I still find it concerning. I agree with pretty much everyone that there are major problems in how formula is manufactured. So far though I haven’t HEARD of any American babies getting sick or injured. It’s not poison and for plenty of women it’s the best option.
Thanks for all the congrats. :) We haven’t announced to friends yet (first trimester ends this week) so it’s still pretty new for me to hear.
Meagan commented on Nov 30 10 at 11:21 pm@Linda Your completely unwarranted opinion on my future parenting practices is of course appreciated.
Molly commented on Nov 30 10 at 11:48 pmYou say “mystery milk” as if we all don’t have vials of blood taken from us during our first trimester and we’re not all screened for every disease imaginable. Oh wait, we ARE screened for every disease imaginable. And I find it unlikely that people choose to engage in disease-catching behavior between that time and the time that milk would be donated.
Formula increases risks. It isn’t a guarantee that something is going to go wrong. That’s why you see plenty of kids who were formula-fed who are fine. That’s also why you see at least some adults who were formula-fed and aren’t lining up for multiple prescription drugs a month. But really, I’d blame at least some of the health issues in the nation and the world on the fact that not enough people are receiving enough human milk from the beginning of their lives.
One last thought, with regards to milk-sharing: you’re telling me that you’d trust a strange cow over the friend-of-a-friend who is the same species as the child you’re trying to feed? Formula is not sterile. It doesn’t come from magical special cow land where everything is perfectly clean. And as soon as you open that powder tin, it’s contaminated. Suck on that.
Linda, the original one commented on Dec 01 10 at 12:51 amAs are your expert opinions about absolutely all aspects of parenting everyone from a newborns to a teenagers when you currently have exeperienced parenting absoutely no one, Meagan.
Meagan commented on Dec 01 10 at 1:55 am@Linda I’m not sure why you have a personal problem with me. I’m also not sure why you think inexperience means I’m not allowed to have an opinion. Are you seriously holding a grudge because I think it’s ok for a teenager to be angry about braces? Sheesh. Blogs are for conversation. I love an argument, but I do my best to keep it civil.
Linda, the original one commented on Dec 01 10 at 3:19 amOf course you’re allowed to have opinions. And I’m allowed to discount them since they’re not based on reality. Holding a grudge? No. Do I think you have no earthly idea what you’re talking about? Exactly! Because let me tell you, as someone who has spent more total years breastfeeding than probably anyone else who posts here, I can tell you that the people who are successful at breastfeeding are not the one’s who tell themselves before they’ve even tried it, that formula is just as good. Breastfeeding can be very difficult and I forsee problems for you in that arena unless you adjust your attitude. I hope I’m wrong though.
Gretchen Powers commented on Dec 01 10 at 8:34 amMeagan, please don’t be put off by all this. Breastfeeding is not all that hard for many, many, people…and it seems that if you let Babble comments be what you gauge reality on, you’ll be mislead. You’ll do fine. I am really big on breastfeeding. I totally loved it and did it for well over 2 years, but, I think I, too, would have used formula rather than someone else’s milk, if I had to. Just because. I’m not that into networking or connecting over personal stuff like that and I’d just want to get my kid fed and move on. I contend, though, that the vast majority of women don’t have to use formula. Read up ahead of time, Meagan, http://www.kellymom.com/ is a really great resource. So is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
Amber commented on Dec 01 10 at 8:41 amMeagan, you said, “So far though I haven’t HEARD of any American babies getting sick or injured. It’s not poison and for plenty of women it’s the best option.”
You may want to rethink that. http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/formula.asp
Am I “against” formula? Nope. Though I do hate the unethical marketing practices of formula companies. And I do think that regardless of WHAT mothers feed their babies, they need to take into account the risks and benefits, and make an informed decision. Burying your head in the sand and pretending that formula is “perfectly safe” does not = making an informed decision.
And FYI, no one can MAKE anyone else feel guilty. Do your homework, make informed decisions, and be confident in your choices. Don’t blame your feelings on anyone else. No one owns them but you.
Manjari commented on Dec 01 10 at 9:43 amDon’t worry, Meagan, it’s not you. Linda is just mean to everyone. She pretty much just gets on to let everyone know how much they suck, and then gives forty examples of why she is the perfect parent with perfect children.
That said, I do think that moms here see formula as very normal, and that seems to interfere with breastfeeding. I think it’s great that formula is around for babies who can’t be breastfed, for whatever reason, but I don’t think it’s an equally good choice. I have to agree with Kim – whenever anyone mentions the benefits of breastfeeding, people get all defensive about their formula feeding.
Marj commented on Dec 01 10 at 10:02 amI think people would use milk banks if they weren’t crazy expensive. My kids were formula fed (I lasted breastfeeding 2 months for my twins), but I still respect others right to choose breastfeeding for whatever reason they choose. Personally, I would be uncomfortable with unscreened breastmilk (or blood, btw) because often good people do no know everything about their health. Doctors do not routinely screen us for everything either
michelle commented on Dec 01 10 at 10:10 amLinda doesn’t know what she’s talking about. My BFing success was due largely to me taking the pressure off myself and telling myself I could always switch to formula. In fact I did (horrors) have to supplement from time to time, but did I beat myself up over it? No. Did it derail my BFing? No. Am I better off for having not let the pressure take over my life and make me miserable? Yes. Are my kids better for it? Yes.
Providence commented on Dec 01 10 at 10:11 amI hope the implied new and lmproved Linda is more pleasant and a lot less sanctimonious than the original one.
Gretchen Powers commented on Dec 01 10 at 10:35 amI understand Linda’s frustration and her comments, and I sometimes feel that way, but I am starting my New Years resolutions early and if I am going to comment at all will try to put a helpful good spin on the comment and if I can’t say anything nice, I will refrain. Too much animosity…anyway, not so into other people’s milk, personally, in contemporary times, but I imagine this was done all the time in primitive cave communities and still in traditional societies…
IrishCream commented on Dec 01 10 at 10:55 amMeagan, my daughter is four months old and almost exclusively breastfed (I’m pumping at work while I write this!). We had a really tough time with breastfeeding to begin with. My babe lost almost 15% of her birthweight, and we had to supplement pretty heavily with formula. Intellectually I knew we were doing the right thing, but of course I was hormonal and exhausted and guilt-ridden. As Michelle said, it really eased the pressure to remember that the worst-case scenario was that my daughter would be formula-fed. Not a life-or-death issue. I persevered, and I’m glad, but if I hadn’t, it would have been okay too. All that is to say that I think you have a great attitude and will do just fine no matter what happens!
Of course, you are all free to disregard my opinion because with only four months of motherhood under my belt, I can’t possibly compete for the Bestest Mom Ever award that is apparently on the table… Ah, gotta love Internet meanies!
Meagan commented on Dec 01 10 at 11:18 am@Gretchen I’m not particularly worried about breast feeding. I realize it is very difficult for many people and impossible for some (hence my comments) but I’ve got lots of time to work on it and very supportive friends and family.
“Though I do hate the unethical marketing practices of formula companies.” So do I for the record.
“whenever anyone mentions the benefits of breastfeeding, people get all defensive about their formula feeding.” Probably. Like I said I took issue with a tone I percieved in a particular sentence, thinking of several of my friends.”
“And FYI, no one can MAKE anyone else feel guilty.” I don’t agree with that. It’s true in principle, but everyone is insecure about something. Parenting seems to be one of those forums where everyone you know (and even perfect strangers seems to feel entitled to tell you what you’re doing wrong. My mom is already hinting that I’m gaining too much pregnancy weight (Net gain so far is -3 lbs thank to morning sickness) and she’s not even in the same state.
Thanks everyone. Done monopolizing the thread now, I promise. :)
Molly commented on Dec 02 10 at 12:31 amMeagan–get used to it. For as long as you are a parent, which will be for the rest of your life, people are going to have opinions. If you can’t put on your big girl panties and deal with it, then you’re going to have a really tough time.
Penn Girl commented on Dec 02 10 at 6:01 pmWelcome to Babble, Meagan! You’ll quickly learn whose comments you can ignore on this site. This is always a topic that gets certain “sanctimommies” panties in a bunch. It sounds like you’ve got a great attitude toward motherhood and toward feeding. BF is great for a number of reasons. I BF my son for 14 months and my daughter is still BF at seven months…but formula isn’t rat poison. It’s a perfectly good alternative and can be a very useful tool for the BF-mom. Don’t lose your healthy, positive, middle-of-the-road attitude.
Cindiego commented on May 18 11 at 12:43 pmWow, way to alienate people by sounding like a caricature of LLL breastfeeding nazis, people! IMO, bf is like vegetarianism… There is a middle way, and a good recipe beats all the guilt trips in the world. In reality, I think most women take the middle way. Most, like me, don’t make it all the way to one year exclusive, for a variety of reasons, but can still give their babies a lot of the benefits for as long as they do breastfeed. For me, the biggest benefit was it seemed to really protect against the babies catching colds, even when the rest of the family was sick. However, it is undeniably hard to keep it up for a long time, esp..if you work. Along with all the other struggles of the first year, sometimes it’s not worth killing yourself over. Modern formula with omega3s is really not that bad, and has at least the benefit of vitamin d. Let’s all just try to do our best with what works for our families, eh?
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