to ask if you would use donated breastmilk if it was available rather than formula?

[bubbleymummy]

Inspired by another thread.

I personally would rather use donated milk. If you wouldn't - why not?

OForFuck

I agree. And as I wish to remain in a good mood, I'm off.

"I love the way people who ff always have to state how 'healthy' their babies are like bf has no impact!"

Okay, but it's alright for the bf clan to slag off the fact that some mums just prefer/have to use formula?

I was simply saying that my DC are just as healthy as your bf DC. I didn't say they were more healthy. I just said they were healthy......

Jlc - I don't see that smugness anywhere to be honest. We're actually discussing situations where people can't bf for whatever reason and what alternative they would prefer.

Bamboo research is always coming out and sorry I don't buy that bm made on a diet of Mcdonalds is good for any baby. They'll get a taste for MD aside from anything else and if we're talking additives a diet high in msg yuk. I'll take my chances with my ignorance thanks.

Is the milk had been screened and my , of course.

I don't like the idea of another woman directly breastfeeding my children because I want to be the one to have that bond, not a stranger. Also, to put it bluntly, as much of a paragon of virtue as that woman may be, her partner may not.

I mention this second point as I once got in a row with a woman on here who had tried to breastfeed a child (not usually BF'ed) that she was babysitting, without first asking the child's parents).

Mila "There is no need to demonise formula or waste money on bm banks."

Do you understand why bm banks are needed for premature babies? Unicef did some research and found that using donor milk in premies reduced necrotizing entero-colitis by 79% compared to formula fed babies.

Mila, I don't worry about my two year old getting picky because he's still breastfed.
Plus of course, it's natural for children to become picky. Totally different to the early feeding.

I'm not disagreeing with what you're saying in that healthy diet over a lifetime is very important, but no one is saying that isn't are they?

Money pent on bm banks wouldn't be wasted.

"Okay, but it's alright for the bf clan to slag off the fact that some mums just prefer/have to use formula? "

firstly i think you will find that there is no 'BF clan' here. many mothers here, including myself have both BFed and FFed throughout our time as parents.

secondly, who is slagging? proof?

That should have said:
"If the milk had been screened and my supply had dried up on or before 4-6month mark, then yes, of course."

Freddy I'm talking banks for everybody not just prem babies as that was what the op is about.

For me bf is a big part and I personally believe that two plus years of bf offers a child a lot of benefits as does the worldwide health organisation

Jamie - what I said about it beige rare not to have enough milk i stand by and I meant that there is help from baby cafes and the la leech league and bf volunteers (I do) to help people

No, definitely not, the thought makes me feel a bit icky...

But having said that, having been unable to BF my own DD (following breast surgery), even the thought of trying to BF another of my own children actually makes me feel a bit icky these days too. I have NO idea why, maybe because I couldn't... That's not to say that if I was to have a DC2 that I wouldn't change my mind on my own ability to BF, but still wouldn't use someone elses...

Mila, the breasts aren't actually connected to the intestines, not everything that goes into the mouth comes out of the nipple.

I know this is splitting hairs a bit, but in the future when banks like these would hopefully be available, would it stop some women from breastfeeding their own children because it was available? Would that result in a lot less bonding between mothers and children???

MIla Thanks, as you can tell, bm banks is something I feel strongly about. TBH I wouldn't spend any time setting up a bm bank for older/healthy babies as it would be a waste of time, as nice an idea as it is. Not enough people would donate.
The bm banks already are always needing more and more and its hard enough to find donors to feed poorly babies.

"They'll get a taste for MD's through the bm!" That has given me the best laugh of the day.

You did say you would be getting by with your ignorance though!

I also object to assumptions about poor bonding between FF babies and their mothers. Both my sons have bonded very well with me, and, actually, very well with their father who was able to feed them as much as I did, as tiny babies.

But as I said I am off.

MAE

You really dont know what you are talking about if you think that having mcdonalds will make a baby have a taste for it

And yes. A woman with a 'crap' diet who bf still offers her child more benefit than if baby had formula

I still stand by my opinion that formula just allows a baby not to starve - ok it has some 'nutrients' but there is nothing like bm for a baby

I would, probably, for the first year from a donor I knew. Preferably close family member. I would definitely from my sister, say. I would use donated colostrum, certainly. I don't think I'd purchase milk as I'd worry about junkies, drinkers, smokers, people with diets high in saturated fat etc

does that mean my dcs will have the taste for wine? at 21 months old?

I thought the taste of bm was affected by what the mum eats. or am I getting confused with what the mum eats during pg?

No, other than the premie situation people have mentioned where it could be critical. It's a balance of risks. I would have too many concerns that the screening process can in no way be 100% effective. For example I don't suppose the alcohol consumption of the donor is screened for. Not many cows go out and get drunk or take recreational drugs. While I accept that there are infection risks associated with formula I would consider them to be lower and more manageable (i.e. making up the formula correctly). Also the processing of cows milk to make formula deals with most of the potential infections.

As regards long term health risks of formula, the studies are by definition based on formula that was available many years ago. There have been and continue to be huge improvements made so I'm not entirely convinced by the relevance. Obviously I don't dispute that breast is best but I do think that formula is a perfectly adequate substitute.

Missy, think it's just terminology they are thriving as they are growing etc.

Milamae, I think it's very sad that you think milk banks are a waste of money. It is due to them that many scbu babies even make it to the 'fussy eating' stage in toddlerhood.

No one is demonising formula; just saying that donated milk could be a better and more suitable choice if it was available.

Jamie

I never spoke about bonding myself but there is something very unique about bf and the bond it gives between mum and baby and that is not said smugly but unless you have existenced it and seen a baby feed an look up at you it is hard to explain

Of course there are different ways to bond but bf is a very good one for baby