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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in expressing breastmilk for my mother who has cancer

93 replies

weeamoomoo · 17/09/2008 22:10

after watching C4 programme last week i thought i'd never forgive myself if i DIDNT do it. but all i know is from that programme. anyone else know anything about it?
she had her first lot today.

OP posts:

moondog · 18/09/2008 21:43

Lillymolly makes some perfectly valid and rational points..which is more than can be said for some of you.

I also think it is a loving thing to do Wee.

KristinaM · 18/09/2008 21:47

i think its a lovely idea

FairLadyRantALot · 18/09/2008 21:55

Firstly weeamoomoo....so very sorry that your mum and you have to go through this...

Secondly, considering that Breastmilk is full of lovely goodness, I think it is a brilliant idea , considering that your mum is willing to drink your milk. It will certainly NOT do any harm, and she probably will benefit....! You seem to be realistic enough, and therefore I don't think "false hopes" will be of any issue....
You may als want to explore Juicing and some of the superfoods....!
I reada while back an interesting book and the lady has a website, too....might be worth also having a look on there
Bernadette Bohan

lilymolly · 18/09/2008 21:55

Oh its ok- all forgiven

Again to OP sorry for any offence x

Original poster

weeamoomoo · 18/09/2008 22:41

no worries!
i actually felt sorry for you when i logged on tonight.
and i also believe its important to try and keep a sense of humour even during difficult times. i was wetting myself at frankie boyle talking about cancer on mock the week .

OP posts:

lilymolly · 19/09/2008 07:34

you sound like a wonderful person x

policywonk · 19/09/2008 12:25

Hello wee... - sorry to hear about your mother.

I thought about giving my mother breastmilk when she was very ill with lung cancer, mostly on the basis of a link that someone posted on here saying that it had had some success in a very small trial (can't find the original link now, but further discussion here). Unfortunately my mother died before I could get hold of a breastpump.

I didn't expect it to be a miracle cure. My thinking was that it almost certainly couldn't do her any harm, it would at least get some calories into her (as she was eating almost nothing by that stage), and that it might possibly provide some sort of boost to her immune system, as she was picking up a lot of opportunistic infections.

I wish I'd tried it sooner - I had been thinking about it for a while but didn't know how to persuade her until it was too late.

I'm sorry that this post isn't very cheerful - I know where you're coming from and I think it's got to be worth a go.

GillianLovesMarmite · 19/09/2008 12:44

I think it is well worth a try - I watched the programme and thought it was really interesting and I have also had similar success as some of the other people to reply regarding breast milk and eye infections, insect bites, spots, sickness etc as there is lots of good stuff and important antibodies in the breastmilk. I would not hesitate to give it to any of my family members (or friends for that matter) and I think of all things that could be tried in this situation that it is certainly worth trying. I found this article www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19926641.700-making-formula-milk-more-like-mums.html in New Scientist really interesting. It is basically about how they are trying to make formula more like breast milk (don't shoot me down about this until you've read it...) but the science people are recognising how little we really know about breast milk as it is sooo complex and although they can do a lot synthetically (which is why formula is becoming better than it ever has been - note I don't work for a formula company either... and I have no medical knowledge or training...) companies will never be able to make it as good as breast milk for any individual child.

Therefore - I can't see any reason why there may not be benefits for all sorts of things from breastmilk that we don't know about because they haven't been looked into. So while I wouldn't be standing up to sell it as a magical cure all - it's definately worth a go (and certainly makes more sense than some of the things reputed to make a difference ).

I really hope that something works for your mum and I think it's lovely that you're doing this for her.

lilbitz · 04/06/2009 19:39

I hope your mom is doing well. I started expressing for a friend of mine around the same time as you. See my blogpost www.jennyfoxe.blogspot.com I am interested in collecting as much information on this as possible.

Morloth · 04/06/2009 19:58

Well it certainly can't hurt and may well do some good! I would do it no problem. I have also tasted someone else's breastmilk (in a bottle obviously ).

I don't get the squick factor at all, and even if I did, if I had cancer and thought it might help I would get over it!

Toffeepopple · 04/06/2009 20:27

I would certainly try it and think you are lovely to offer.

And it wouldn't worry me that there was little research for two reasons:

(1) It is not poisonous so can do no harm at all

(2) Research has to be funded by someone, usually a drug company. As they can't make money out of breast milk, it's never going to be their first priority for funding - so lack of research doesn't have to mean lack of efficacy.

Good luck and love to you and your mum.

nickschick · 04/06/2009 20:34

Wee I cant bear to read all of the replies but I do know that sometimes just believing something helps means that it does - my mil had breast cancer she was terminal and she was growing weaker because she had no appetite so she wasnt eating - i told her that her medicines would work far better with food in her stomach and that by eating it helped keep her body functioning as normal we started with complan and milk drinks and soon she was eating almost everything - of course this wasnt going to save her but it meant she had a better quality of life.

If it works for you - do it .
wishing you strength to fight this along with your mum and wishing your mum a speedy recovery xxx

WinkyWinkola · 04/06/2009 20:42

Donating bm is a really lovely gift. Regardless of whether it's a cure or not. It's from someone who wants to try anything to help. And that is very moving.

"if it can kill 40 different types of cancer cells in test tubes is farking good shit imo"

Whaaat? Tell me more! Where can I read about this?

Veggiemummy · 04/06/2009 21:17

My father died when I was 10 from cancer that took quite some time to spread and eventually kill him. If I was older and was breastfeeding when he was ill I wouldn't have given a 2nd thought to giving him my milk even if it only reduced his suffering a little and gave him some nutrition which for cancer suffers is so needed but can be so difficult to come by because they often feel so ill. Well done I say and at the very least it gives you & your mother a bond even further than you already have. She has nourished you and now you her. Good on you.

walkinthewoods · 04/06/2009 21:27

I put bm in my dp's coffee when he contracted chikenpox form the kids. It was pretty nasty (as it is for adults) and then becmae infected ...he looked like something from the dark ages. My ds had chicken pox at the same time so I guessed I would have the antibodies. Can't say whther it helped..maybe it could have been much worse if he hadn't had bm?

Maybe I should freeze some bm just incase?

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/06/2009 22:11

sorry to hear about your mum weamoomoo - i read something a while back in a weekly mag, womans own etc and the daughter was bf and found out her dad had cancer and she then expressed a beaker a day for him to pour over his cereal and at his check up he was told the tumour etc had shrunk

way i see it,breast milk def WONT harm your mum,and MAY cure/help her-so what have you got to lose

I would do it without hesitating

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/06/2009 22:13

whoops forgot to add this google links

serin · 04/06/2009 22:18

I am sorry that your mum is ill and I hope that she regains her health soon. You sound like a lovely daughter.

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