Would any of you buy breast milk rather than using formula?

[mummyloveslucy]

When I had my daughter 7 years ago, I wasn't able to feed her well enough myself and had to put her on to formula at 2 weeks old. Since then I've seen a programe that mentioned being able to buy someone elses breast milk. If I'd have known about that then, I don't know weather or not I'd have done that instead? WE are TTC at the moment, and I'm wondering if I couldn't feed the next one, weather I would buy breast milk. I also wonder how much it costs and who's to say the mum doesn't smoke, eat really unhealthy etc. I'm sure these things would make a difference to the milk.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

I guess if i couldnt breast feed number 2 i would LIKE to buy breast milk

however i donate my spare milk to a milk bank (I think i could sell it for ice-cream if i chose) and I am happiest that my milk goes to the babies who have the greatest medical need for it, as for them it can truley be life or death.
It is also tested etc etc etc so it is safe for the very very fragile babies who recieve it.
There are strict criteria if you are a milk donar but every sample is tested as well

there is a site called human milk for human babies, (google) you might be able to get some there?

Thank you, that's interesting! In that case, I probubly would buy it. I bet it's expensive but worth it I think.

If I was you I'd work on your confidence with feeding first, you may be fine feeding this one and maybe you could spend the money on a private breastfeeding counseller if it means so much to you who can dedicate time solely to helping you feed

That would be good. I didn't realise there was such a thing. I'll definatly try everything next time.

I wouldn't unless my baby was premature and desperately needed it - as nannyl says it's so precious that I wouldn't want to take it from a baby for whom it might be life and death.

Isn't there many people doing it then? I wouldn't expect to get it for free, or to take it from a baby who's ill.

Can you get HIV with contaminated breastmilk?

My local group of midwifes includes a few specialist breastfeeding counsellers which they offered to send round on a daily basis if needed - might be worth asking about that as well if you're keen to BF again. For some, BF comes natural, but for most of us, it's a skill we have to master so grab any support that's on offer.

I have tons of milk! I donated first time around to the milk bank but I must admit selling it would be tempting.. but feel so very wrong!

dialmformummy Official hospital milk bank donors are screened for HIV and other things that can pass through breast milk, whereas other less formal arrangements you would need to arrange your own tests etc to be sure of safety.

I am a HV and I wouldn't. Primarily because the reason immunity is improved in breastfed babies is that you feed on demand, so that when baby encounters bacteria etc you are also exposed and you produce specific antibodies for the bacteria you are both exposed to. This does not work in donated breast milk. There will be some antibodies, but unless the donor is exposed to exactly the same infections at the same time you have the milk the benefit is minimal. Also the reason for the health effects such as decreased obesity, diabetes and related diseases, is that breastfed babies feed little and often on demand and learn when they are full. Trying to feed a baby expressed milk does not work in the same way. Often the subtle feeding demand cues are lost, leading to bablies having to wait to be fed and consuming more per feed in one go. For the significant costs of it, it is not that beneficial.
Breastfeeding and learning how to do it effectively is the way forward imo.

I agree with pinkpepper, the money would be better spent on a private breastfeeding counsellor

Tbh, no. I bf my son for 6 mo and I am convinced of some of the benefits (although not all), so am definitely planning on doing the same with DC2.

However, I don't think they would outweigh the hassle of having to find a seller, arrange all the health screening yourself, plus the drawbacks of TP milk that Anxious mentioned etc.

I agree that getting good help with breastfeeding would be the best option, but if you really can't then you can get breastmilk via human milk for human babies without paying for it.

I would absolutely choose donated breastmilk over formula. Your baby may not get all the benefits of directly breastfeeding, but still many of them. Donated breastmilk is also the third choice for infant feeding according to the WHO, over and above formula and after only the mother directly breastfeeding or the mother giving her own expressed milk.

But Midori, isnt it also true to say there's not an unlimited supply and a normal weight, otherwise healthy baby wouldn't be the number 1 priority for breastmilk banks, so whilst WHO is probably right nutritionally, it's probably not practical for everyone to implement their advice.

maybe I'm wrong? Can you just ask for some and they give it to you?

Theres not an unlimited supply, but it's perfectly possible to get enough milk to feed a baby. I'm not talking about donor milk banks, I'm talking about milk sharing, other mums who are able to expressing for or even wet nursing someone else's baby and there is no money involved.

It's absolutely something I would do myself (donate) and in the UK at least it seems there are far more donors than recipients, but I may be wrong there.

Just to add, in some other countries anyone can buy milk from milk banks.

I would, if we had problems and a much better income, employ a wet nurse if I was unable to feed my children. I doubt very much that i will ever be in a position that I would be able to pay an acceptable level of income for a wet nurse.

Anxious I'm a little bit at your comments I thought that in terms of what was best practice was:
Direct breastfeeding
Expressed breast feeding from mother
Donated breast milk/wet nursing
Formula

Thanks everyone. I'll definatly get all the help I can to BF, even hire a BF specialist.

I would use formula instead and I do, the logistics of it all complicated and time consuming

I'm not positive on it but I'm pretty sure that selling breastmilk is illegal in the UK. donating for free/accepting money to cover costs ie petrol/milk storage bags/bottles would be fine though. I have donated privately through human milk for human babies and would do it again

I would if I couldn't feed. We've been doing it for thousands of years. Donor milk is better for a tiny baby than dried cows' milk.