Is It Safe for a Mother to Drink Her Own Breast Milk?
From a safety perspective, a woman drinking her own breast milk does not expose herself to new infections she doesn't already have. However, this safety is strictly limited to self-consumption of freshly expressed milk, or milk that has been properly stored using hygienic methods. The primary concern regarding safety arises when milk is shared or purchased from unregulated online sources, which can carry serious risks of bacterial and viral contamination. The process of expressing, handling, and storing milk must be meticulous to avoid introducing bacteria from the skin or environment. Risks are further elevated when consuming someone else’s milk, as it could transmit serious infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, or cytomegalovirus (CMV) if the donor is not properly screened.
The Lack of Proven Benefits for Adults
Despite anecdotes and historical uses, there is a fundamental scientific reason why breast milk offers no significant health advantages to a healthy adult. The components that make breast milk a "superfood" for infants, such as antibodies and complex sugars, are specifically designed to address the needs of a developing gut and immune system. An adult's mature digestive system, with its higher acidity, breaks down many of these delicate bioactive compounds before they can be absorbed effectively. Furthermore, a healthy adult's body already possesses its own sophisticated immune system, rendering the antibodies in breast milk redundant. For instance, a mother's body already produces the antibodies she passes to her infant, so re-consuming them provides no additional immune boost.
The Nutritional Mismatch Between Infants and Adults
Human milk composition is perfectly calibrated for a human infant's rapid growth and specific nutritional needs. Adults, with their fully developed bodies and varied diets, require a different balance of macronutrients and a broader range of micronutrients that breast milk cannot provide in sufficient quantities. For an adult to meet their daily nutritional needs solely from breast milk, they would need to consume several liters per day, which would lead to an unbalanced diet and potential deficiencies.
Can I drink my own breastmilk for immune support?
Many wonder if breast milk can ward off illnesses like the common cold. While a mother's milk contains specific antibodies that help her infant fight off infections, any perceived benefit for herself is likely a psychological or placebo effect. As noted by Dr. Thomas Russo, an infectious disease expert at the University of Buffalo, the benefits for a nursing mother drinking her own milk are "limited to negligible" because she already possesses those antibodies. The best course of action for a sick mother is to continue her normal, healthy recovery practices, including staying hydrated and well-rested.
Comparison: Breast Milk for Infants vs. Adults
| Feature | For Infants | For Adults (Self-Consumption) |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional Composition | Perfectly balanced with specific fats, proteins, and sugars for rapid growth and brain development. | Suboptimal and unbalanced; lacks fiber and the right ratios of certain minerals like iron and sodium. |
| Immune Benefits | Transfers critical antibodies and immune factors to the developing infant via colostrum and mature milk. | Benefits are negligible, as the adult immune system is already mature. Any effect is likely a placebo. |
| Digestive Efficiency | Infant gut is specifically designed to absorb the unique components in human milk. | Adult digestive system has higher acidity, breaking down many bioactive components before they can be absorbed. |
| Practicality and Quantity | Readily available and naturally produced to meet a baby's needs on demand. | Requires a significant volume to provide any meaningful calories or nutrients, potentially depleting a resource for the infant. |
| Safety | Safest when consumed directly from the mother. | Safe for self-consumption if milk is handled hygienically. Risky if improperly stored. |
Alternative Uses and Ethical Considerations
Instead of internal consumption, some people explore alternative, external uses for breast milk, such as in balms for skin conditions like diaper rash or sore nipples, or as a topical treatment for minor burns. While not always scientifically conclusive, these applications are widely reported anecdotally. Additionally, any excess milk is a valuable resource for premature or sick infants. Donating to a regulated milk bank is a highly impactful and evidence-based use for surplus breast milk, where it can provide essential nutrition and immune support to vulnerable babies. For those considering milk sharing with other adults, understanding the risks of contamination and disease transmission is crucial. Reputable health organizations advise against casual, unregulated milk sharing due to these significant health hazards.
Conclusion
In summary, while there is no harm in a lactating woman tasting her own breast milk, there are no proven health benefits for consuming it as a dietary supplement. The milk's composition is uniquely suited to infants, and an adult's body does not gain the same nutritional or immunological advantages. Any attempts to use it as a cure-all are unfounded by scientific evidence. For a healthy lactating mother, the safest and most beneficial use of her milk is to provide it to her baby or, if she has a surplus, to donate it to a regulated milk bank to help infants in need. Ultimately, the decision to taste one's own milk is personal and generally harmless, but it should not be viewed as a wellness elixir for adults.
Sources:
Parents, "Kourtney Kardashian Drank Breast Milk When She Was Sick", (April 15, 2024). Milkify, "Can I Drink My Own Breast Milk When Sick?", (February 14, 2024). YouTube (from HealthTap), "Is It Safe To Drink Your Breastmilk?", (October 15, 2020). The Guardian, "Breast milk for adults: wellness elixir or unscientific fascination?", (October 09, 2024). The Bump, "Kourtney Kardashian Drinks Her Own Breast Milk", (April 11, 2024). Quora, "If you were stranded with no food, could you survive on your own breast milk for a short amount of time", (May 16, 2018). National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Human Breast Milk Composition and Function in Human Health", (September 02, 2021). National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Human Milk Composition: Nutrients and Bioactive Factors", (September 02, 2021). MedicineNet, "Is It Good for Adults to Drink Breast Milk?", (September 22, 2025). Parents, "Is Breast Milk Good for Adults: Uses and Home Remedies", (July 29, 2024). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Breast Milk Storage and Preparation", (May 16, 2025). National Institutes of Health (NIH), "the risks for adult consumers of human breast milk bought...", (June 2015). Nest Collaborative, "Beyond The Breast: Creative Uses For Breast Milk", (Unk. Date). MedicineNet, "Is It Good for Adults to Drink Breast Milk?", (September 22, 2025). Mayo Clinic, "Breast milk storage: Do's and don'ts", (March 27, 2025).
