Would it be weird to offer breast milk?

[ForeverBubblegum]

I have a breastfeeding 6 month old and an ample supply, so am luckily not worrying about formula availability. My BIL/SIL have a formula fed 3 month old, so are understandably stressed (hasn't got to the point where they can't get any, but it's an extra worry for them).

I'm considering offering my stash of frozen breastmilk as a backup, and also possibly to continue expressing for them if things get really bad. Probably couldn't fully feed both babies, buy could give them a few days worth from the freezer, and an extra feed or two a day to make any formal they can get last longer.

Would they think I was weird for offering? My breastfeeding friend and I have fed each other children when babysitting etc. But I know some FF parents find the idea of breastfeeding "icky", and probably more so if it's someone else's milk.

Can any FF mums tell me how you would feel about this offer?

I would have been fine with it but then I was initially a bf but my children have allergies so it’s all academic.

Just offer.

Well I guess it depends how desperate they are. If they have no formula they may be more inclined to accept your offer. Until then probably not.

I wouldn’t accept someone’s BM unless I knew them extremely well and trusted them implicitly. And was very very desperate.

Pharmacies can order milk in, that would be my first port of call before resorting to someone else’s BM.

Thanks for the replies, consensus seems to be to leave it, so I'll not mention anything. Chances are the panic buying will die down before they run out anyway.

@Rio5555 pharmacies cannot order in milk

I'd mention it. They may not want it but it might just take some stress away knowing there's a viable option if they run out of formula

When I read the title of this thread my immediate thought was "weird" but I thought it was going to be as an alternative for milk in someone's tea! I think it is actually a really kind offer.

Check out Human Milk 4 Human Babies -UK on Facebook. It is a long established milk sharing network.

I’d be touched that you offered even if I didn’t want to take you up on the offer.

Is she completely secure in the decision to FF though? If she has from day 1 or early on fair enough. If she’s had any issues BFing that you are aware of and may be sensitive about it I’d not make a point of offering.

Do you know if sil even tried to breastfeed? A lot of women don’t as they don’t know about the benefits of breastmilk but some women do try and can’t - if she’s the latter then your offer might make her feel bad about herself

I’d keep adding to the freezer if you have room. Look - offer. Say you know under other circumstances it would be weird but these are weird times, and you want them to know there is a plan b, that their baby won’t be without milk.

I absolutely would.

If they’re stressed their baby might have no food I doubt they’ll worry about feeling bad about not breastfeeding.

I’d be touched by the offer but I’d want to see proof of negative viral bloods before I accepted so I would politely decline, as I realise that it would offend people if I asked for their test results.

I think it's a perfectly ok and normal thing to offer your family, they don't have to accept. In their situation I'd be relived to know that there's a backup if I couldn't get formula.

Donated milk is a thing...maybe ask your midwife/HV if it's something you can look into, for other mums? I don't actually know anything about this but there may be tests or something? I exclusively FF my son from about 8 weeks and if i was desperate about finding formula I wouldn't have said no to donated breastmilk.

You can only offer. I accepted milk from another mum for my first, and she absolutely bloody loved it, her little face when she realised it wasn't formula. It won't offer the same level of protection against viruses etc as milk from source though.

Communal breastfeeding used to happen and I believe still does in some parts of the world. I think it's a good idea to offer.

I would offer by text with the fact that you won't be offended at all by a no.
Then it takes away that awkward phone call pause.

id offer it as well!!

I think the donation of breastmilk has happened before in this country during previous emergency situations, and saved lives, during the sars virus for example.

I wouldn't. Risk of infection, etc.

Also a bit patronising if sil couldn't breast feed...sorry you can't but here's mine.

Not saying that you mean it that way, clearly you have nothing but good intentions, but you might not know how sil will take it.

I would more likely accept a sisters offer to give me milk as a blood relative than a sil. Don't know why but I just would.

Women donate breast milk here, so if they don’t want it someone else likely will. Women have been sharing breastfeeding for millennia, it’s ojoy recently we’ve got weird about these things.

Always better to have milk from the same species rather than a different one!!

Always better to have milk from the same species rather than a different one!!

Not if there is an infection risk.