Donating Breast Milk
Hi Ladies I went to the hospital yesterday to have some blood screening done, as I signed up to their milk donation programme. I just thought that I'd spread the word, because I never knew that milk banks existed until someone in my NCT mummies group mentioned it to me the other day. They really should publicise these things more. Anyway, so they gave me all these bottles to take home and said that, when I've freezed milk in all of them, to call the milk bank and they'll send a courier to come and collect it from my home. The milk is given to babies in Intensive Care who cannot get breast milk from their mums. If you want some more information, you can find local milk banks on this website: http://www.ukamb.org/milkbanks.htm

Good for you Yolande. It really wouldn't be for me even if I could have had enough milk to do it. We were offered donated breast milk when Ryan was in SCBU and my supply dried up but I was not happy with the arrangment and unless my child really needed it for medical reasons I wouldn't bother. However, there was someone in SCBU at the time who did need it for medical reasons and I think what you are doing is wonderful. You really could be helping someone in dire need of it. Well done you.

Hi Yolande I never knew this existed either! Well done you for donating, but (sorry if this is going to be controversial) but I'm not sure I'd want donated BF for my baby.....I know breast is best and I struggled to BF both of mine (Ella - 3 weeks, Lucy 3 days) but even then I wouldn't want anybody elses milk. Maybe that's just me though and it's a great idea and really self-less of you to do it as, given the struggles I had, I really admire anybody who can BF and to do it for somebody else is even more admirable in my book. KT x

Hi KT Yes, as you said, I think it may be a controversial one. But the man at the milk bank explained to me yesterday that it is especially important for babies who are sick or very premature, because giving these babies breastmilk increases their chances of survival. So I think it's not always a case of the mum choosing to give her baby the donated breast milk instead of formula. I read so much about this at the hospital yesterday. They were telling me how they had a real shortage over Christmas time. But then why don't they advertise properly?? I don't understand.

I'm probably going to get flamed for this but I really wouldn't be comfortable with my baby having somebody elses breast milk especially if I didn't know where it had come from. What checks to they do on the donating person - you wouldn't have anyway of knowing if they took any meds, had any problems which can get passed through their milk, had drank etc etc. It's not somehting I've ever heard of before so this is my gut reaction. I may think differently about this later when I've looked it up and found out more info. Good topic Yolande!!!! Certainly got me thinking now.

Whitey.....just what I was thinking when I initially replied. You can pass all sorts through your milk and I would want to know exactly where it came from. Interesting topic - good for a debate on a rainy Tuesday, Yolande! KT x

KT and Whitey - the milk does get screened and I was led to believe the mother has allsorts of -*test*-('")s beforehand too but maybe Yolande can confirm that. My initial gut reaction was oh ok but it was DH who said no way and when I thought about it more I really wasn't keen. However, I have seen a poorly baby whose gut couldn't take formula on the unit when we were there and his parents were thankful of the milk bank.

I suppose it's no different from the 'Wet Nursing' days of old. But at least you would have known the person.

That's right, B - they asked me to come in for additional -*test*-('")s. I actually asked why they had to be done yet again, as I only had my baby at the same hospital 6 weeks ago and they already have all my blood -*test*-('") results. But they said it was so that they could give peace of mind to the babies' parents. I read a list of things they screen for, but can't remember now - it was things like HIV, Hep B, Hep C, Siphilis, etc. They say that donors can take the progesterone only contraceptive pill and use asthma inhalers, if necessary, but cannot take any other medication, smoke, or drink more than two units of alcohol or seven cups of coffee a day. So I figure that it's pretty much like when I donate blood: they ask you not to donate if you have unsafe sex or have travelled to a country where there is malaria. As it is a donation anyway, the donor doesn't really stand to gain anything from lying to them. And you're right, Whitey - it's pretty much like wet nursing, but obviously not with the bonding etc that goes with it. By the way, I read somewhere recently that wet nursing has made a bit of a comeback somewhere, I think it may have been the States?

Ah, found it! http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1612710,00.html

Wow! Good on you Yolande! Lovely pic of Reuben by the way!

Well I can understand some people do not like the idea but in my mind you drink milk from a cow. Moo milk is designed for calves not humans, Breast milk is designed for babies, you do not think about which cow the milk for your skinny mocha latte is coming from. As long as precautions are taken e.g. blood -*test*-('")ing and screening of the milk, I personally have no problem with it, saying that who knows how I would feel if the hospital were actually suggesting it for my baby. Also I think perhaps the way we feel could also be based on the social stigma this subject would create if it was more widely advertised. Just like the issue some people have with breast feeding generally. Rubyru

You know what Rubyru, thats an excellent point and when you put it like that, it really does present another point of view! I started off thinking what a great idea, then having read a few more posts, I have to confess to starting to agree, and think would I really accept it if it was for Jess, but then I guess its maybe one of those that you really wouldnt know what you would do unless you were faced with that situation! It does sound like a great idea for really sick little babies, whos mothers cant BF, and would benefit from the breastmilk. Like Yolande said, perhaps they should advertise more!