Selling breast milk

[MotherPanda]

Why not? I feel a bit ashamed to say that I don't have a problem with this at all.

I have emailed my local hospital to think about donating to the milk bank, but am a bit unnerved about the fact that the hospital can and do sell on the milk to other hospitals, so i won't know if the money they make actually goes towards helping the babies i donated the milk for. I have also signed up to the human milk for human babies campaign to help needy babies in my area.

But why is it so wrong of me to also consider selling my milk (in addition to donating) to those who are not premature/needy but just can't (or don't want to) breastfeed but don't want to use formula, as they would have to pay for formula.

The thing that got me thinking is that we are very happy to compensate/pay people for donating sperm or eggs - but for some reason not blood or milk. is it because blood and milk are more essential?

would love to discuss, especially with other people who have surplus milk.

People aren't paid for donating sperm and eggs. People are compensated for their inconvience. I don't think that donating breastmilk carries the same level of inconvience as donating gametes which will turn into children.

If you choose to donate milk or blood you aren't likely to get a strange knock at the door and have some teen calling you Mum.

Hospitals don't sell milk to other hospitals. The costs of processing breastmilk is very high and the money that one hospital pays another is to cover that cost. I believe that some milk is sold to researchers who are trying to improve formula milk. When I donated milk I signed a seperate form to give permission for my breastmilk to be sold to a formula company if it was not needed for a premie.

If you have surplus milk then you are entitled to sell it. There was some weirdo who wanted to make breastmilk ice cream. Its not unheard of.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1360225/Shop-sells-breast-milk-ice-cream-London-restaurant-Icecreamists-Baby-Gaga.html

Oh, thank you - sorry to be a copy cat then!

Of course, I''m glad the milk will be given to babies, what bothers me is whats happening to the profit the hospital are making - shouldn't they be donating my milk on too? If I had sold it to them, I would feel more comfortable with them selling it on too.

ok.. but i do have to spend 15 minutes at a time to get 4oz of milk, and then use my freezer/fridge to store the milk in bottles that i have to sterilize (along with the pump). That's a lot of time, equipment and electricity used.

Should that not be compensated too (or at least more widely accepted for me to be asked to compensate).

The point about the hospital processing the milk is fair enough, i feel happier about the costs they are asking for now.

I know I'm entitled to sell it - what bothers me is that it does make me feel a bit greedy/naughty for thinking about selling it, and am wondering why its not socially acceptable.

Thanks again.

I don't have a problem with it either tbh. I personally wouldn't do it and would rather donate or use HM4HB but I wouldn't really spend huge amounts of my own money getting it to someone else/milk bank etc. We do not have any extra cash so if there was a significant cost involved, I would want compensation. If I were a wet nurse (I.e. nanny and providing milk, I would charge more too)

I don't have a problem with one hospital selling milk to another as it does cost them money to process and store the milk BUT I would want them to be able to prove that there is no profit made from donations and that any surplus income they receive is used for the benefit of babies in their care IYSWIM? I don't think other people's hard work and charity should be used for profiteering.

Oh, I can see however that in poor countries (or certain situations) mother's may be tempted to sell their milk for the income and deprive their own children. (Probably a point made on the other thread, so will go have a nosey there now)

well - that was common in our country (UK) Middle class mothers would pay lower class mothers to wet nurse their children, so that they could offer to wet nurse for upper class parents and get more money.

of course, theirs a big problem if the children aren't getting any milk at all...

it's funny how wet nursing/milk sharing seems to have vanished - when it was so popular before. I think a lot of our prejudices about breast feeding come from the fact that it was seen as an occupation for the lower classes.

There's

Sorry to join late, I've decided to try and sell my surplus breast milk. I thought about it and then spoke to my partner about it.
I don't feel greedy (and my child isn't going without), I'm on a very reduced income and stressed about money, so if selling my milk means my family will be more comfortable or I could have more time on maternity leave, that's great!
I thought about donating but was put off by blood tests and having to use the bags given to me by the hospital.
If I am unable to sell my milk I have friends that will accept it.

Please update-I'd love to know the going rate and if you get any takers! I donated to the milk bank for 6m and an very glad I did...but I could justify expressing twice as much...for a price! When ds was young I was wasting/leaking so much!

I have to say, I would happily donate my milk for free, either to milk banks or a Mother who wanted it for their baby, but there are ethical issues involved in selling it. For example, should only Mother's who can afford to pay be able to give their baby breastmilk? What about Mothers who are in dire financial need and may not be entirely honest about their habits or health status in order to 'earn' money selling breastmilk? Informal milk sharing relies very much on trust and honesty.

Aiden- I think they should make it a lot easier and more convenient for women to donate though. A lot.
I'm sorry if it was hard for you?! I donated milk for 6m and it was extremely easy with everything (bar breast pump) supplied and motorbike courier collections arranged at a time of my choice etc. Even for the blood tests they sent me the stuff and I took it to my local nurse at the GP who did the tests. That was London though so maybe easier.

Not sure about selling but every little helps I guess.

I donate my bm to a new mum I met during my stay in hospital, her LO is premature so we set a routine. So I BF my own and pump for her as she is unable.

I don't think you should have to pay for BM. It should be free, regardless.