Medical and Personal Reasons for Buying Breast Milk
Buying breast milk, more accurately referred to as obtaining donor human milk, is a decision often driven by necessity rather than preference. For countless families, it provides a life-saving or nutritionally superior alternative to formula when a mother's milk is not available or insufficient. The motivations range widely, encompassing everything from supporting medically fragile infants to providing optimal nutrition for adoptive children.
Supporting Premature and Vulnerable Infants
For premature or low-birth-weight babies, donor human milk is frequently used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and is a critical source of nutrition. These infants have immature digestive systems that are more susceptible to serious health conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating intestinal disease. Human milk provides vital antibodies and is more easily digested, offering a significant protective effect against such life-threatening illnesses. A mother's milk may be delayed or insufficient, making donor milk a vital 'bridge' until her supply is fully established.
Bridging Supply Gaps for Full-Term Babies
Even with full-term infants, mothers can face challenges with their milk supply. Common reasons for low milk production include certain medical conditions, medications, or multiple births. A temporary need for supplementation can be met safely through a regulated milk bank, allowing the mother to work on her supply with lactation support. The use of donor milk can protect the infant from formula intolerance and support the mother's long-term breastfeeding goals.
Feeding an Adopted or Surrogacy-Born Baby
Families who welcome a child through adoption or surrogacy may choose to feed their baby with donor breast milk to provide the nutritional and immunological benefits that only human milk can offer. Some parents choose to induce lactation to combine with donor milk, creating a deep bonding experience while providing superior nutrition. This choice allows families to provide the 'liquid gold' benefits of human milk, which is especially important for the baby's developing immune system.
Other Unique Circumstances
In addition to the common reasons, there are other situations where donor milk is necessary:
- Maternal Health Issues: A mother may be too ill to breastfeed or take medications that contraindicate nursing.
- Maternal Absence: In cases of maternal death, prolonged separation, or severe illness requiring hospitalization, donor milk provides the best alternative.
- Allergy Concerns: Some infants with severe allergies or sensitivities may tolerate human milk better than cow's milk-based formula.
Choosing a Safe Source: Milk Banks vs. Online Sharing
When it comes to sourcing breast milk, the distinction between using a regulated human milk bank and participating in informal online milk-sharing is paramount. The former offers safety and peace of mind, while the latter poses significant and often unseen risks to an infant's health.
Comparison of Milk Bank vs. Informal Online Sources
| Feature | Accredited Human Milk Bank | Informal Online Sharing (Peer-to-Peer) |
|---|---|---|
| Donor Screening | Rigorous health questionnaires, blood tests (HIV, hepatitis, etc.), and medical history reviews. | Varies widely, often based on verbal trust. No standardized health checks or blood screening. |
| Milk Processing | All milk is pasteurized using the Holder method to destroy harmful bacteria and viruses, while preserving beneficial components. | No pasteurization. Raw, unprocessed milk with unknown pathogen risk. |
| Storage & Handling | Donors follow strict hygiene guidelines for collection, and banks adhere to regulated storage and handling protocols. | Highly inconsistent. Collection, storage, and shipping practices are unregulated, increasing contamination risk. |
| Adulteration Risk | Minimal to none. Banks test samples to ensure purity. | Significant risk. Studies have found cow's milk contamination in samples bought online. |
| Cost & Access | Processing fees apply, but financial assistance is often available for medical needs. Typically requires a prescription for outpatient use. | Low or variable cost, but potential for fraud exists. Widely accessible via social media and forums. |
| Regulatory Oversight | Adheres to strict guidelines from organizations like the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and FDA warnings. | No oversight. The FDA warns against feeding infants milk from unscreened donors. |
Risks of Purchasing from Unregulated Online Sources
Health professionals and organizations like the FDA strongly warn against buying breast milk from unregulated online platforms. A 2013 study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 74% of milk samples purchased online were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. The risks include:
- Bacterial Contamination: Pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus are common in informally shared milk due to improper handling, storage, or transport.
- Viral Transmission: Unscreened milk can transmit infectious diseases like HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV), posing severe health threats to infants, especially preemies.
- Adulteration: Some sellers have been found to intentionally add cow's milk or formula to boost volume, which is dangerous for infants with allergies.
- Medication and Drug Exposure: There is no guarantee that a donor is free from prescription drugs, illegal substances, or other contaminants that could be passed into the milk.
- Inconsistent Nutritional Content: The nutritional composition of informally sold milk is unknown and can vary greatly, making it unreliable for infant feeding.
The Adult Craze: Lack of Evidence and Significant Risks
Beyond infant feeding, a recent trend has seen adults, particularly fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders, buying and consuming breast milk. The rationale behind this is based on unproven claims of superior nutritional benefits and muscle-building properties. However, experts universally debunk these claims, noting that breast milk is formulated specifically for infants and offers no proven advantages for healthy adults. For an adult, the protein concentration is relatively low compared to other protein sources. The practice is not only ineffective but also carries all the same risks of contamination and disease transmission associated with unregulated online milk sales. In 2015, Queen Mary University of London researchers highlighted the serious health risks to adults consuming breast milk purchased online, including infectious diseases.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety and Necessity
The decision to buy breast milk is often a profoundly important one, driven by a desire to provide the best possible start for a child. For medically fragile infants, donor milk from an accredited milk bank can be a lifeline. For adoptive parents or those experiencing temporary supply issues, it offers a safe bridge to providing optimal human milk nutrition. However, the rise of informal online milk-sharing has introduced significant risks that cannot be ignored. The potential for bacterial contamination, viral transmission, and adulteration far outweighs the perceived benefits of lower cost or convenience. For adults seeking health benefits, the science is clear: the practice is ineffective and dangerous. In all cases, the safety of the recipient must be the highest priority. When obtaining donor milk, always rely on the rigorous screening and pasteurization processes of accredited human milk banks to ensure the well-being of the consumer. A comprehensive resource for finding accredited milk banks can be found on the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) website.
