Woman Places Breast Milk For Sale In Paper

[matcom]

<snip>

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A 23-year-old woman who tried to sell her extra breast milk through a classified ad says she became the butt of jokes.

The woman, who did not want to be identified because of the potential for more jabs, says she was just trying to help women who have difficulty breast-feeding.

Since having her baby two months ago, she has been producing too much milk, so she placed an ad in The Salt Lake Tribune.

Following doctors' recommendations for pumping and proper storage, she managed to save 400 ounces of breast milk.

The ad, which ran Nov. 1-2, offered the frozen milk for sale at $1 an ounce or $350 for all of it.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2003/11/11/woman_places_breast_milk_for_sale_in_classifieds/

[Maine-i-acs]

1. La Leche League banks the stuff all the time.

She should contact her local chapter. They would be pleased to have it. Breast milk is important to babies and mothers who for health reasons cannot produce it.

[foxy]

2. Is it sweet milk?

Might be worth looking into guys.

My old man always told me mine was sweet milk but his ex's were never like that. Who knew?

Hi! matcom!:hi:

[Deja Q]

3. GROSS!!!!!!!!! Of course,

I mean, the sentiment on her part is there - but there's little demand, what with corporate baby formula everywhere.

Big business got there first. As usual. Go figure.

In another time and place, this WOULD be funny.

[Ilsa]

14. An update for you

There is actually high demand for breastmilk and it is very expensive due to the costs of testing and processing it. It is used in many NICU's for preemies and sick children whose mothers are unable to breastfeed. Why? Because those babies get well much faster on breastmilk vs formula, have fewer side effects, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (gangrenous bowels). Mortality rates dropped from 14% to less than 1% when 30 week preemies were placed on breastmilk.

Human milk has also been used for nutrition for cancer patients who are unable to tolerate any other feedings.

[maxanne]

4. thanks for keeping us

abreast of this story, Matcom. Poor woman probably feels udderly foolish.

[marzipanni]

5. 'Tis sweet

In 1977 when one of my best friends had her first baby I asked if she'd squirt a little breast milk in to a shot glass so I could try it. It tasted like low-fat milk with honey added! Once, when I worked at a chiropactic office, a working mom came in with little cups on her nipples in her bra to catch the overflow- and they WERE about to overflow on her blouse so she took them out, handed them to me and said, "could you empty these (laugh), or you guys can use it in your coffee!" (no thanks, lady, it hasn't been refrigerated!)
When I had a baby my husband said my milk was sweet.
Human milk is MUCH better than any other food for human infants.
I agree with Maine-i-acs, La Leche Legue would be a good outlet for this young mom's bounty.

[kimchi]

6. I don't see anything wrong with that.

Breast is best. Of course, it would be more kind to give it to La Leche league. But hey, corporations make big bucks off of our blood, sweat, and tears, so why shouldn't this woman make money off her milk?

[populistmom]

7. Breastfeeding

I would venture to guess that I am the resident expert (unless there's an actual IBCLC at DU) here since I've actually been paid to help women with breastfeeding problems and nursed 4 children. I'm actually going to nursing school hoping eventually to work with postpartum women as a lactation consultant in order to increase breastfeeding. It is a seriously overlooked public health issue. I personally think it's a feminist issue as well because it's corporate profits put ahead of women's rights and health in a mulitude of ways, from commercial formula to employers not granting women access to breaks to pump and the US being 50 years behind that of every other industrialized nation when it comes to maternity leave policies.
La Leche League does not bank milk. It is a mother to mother support group. However, there ar milk banks http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/compend-milkbanks.htm for those who are willing to donate. Personally, my supply was never so abundant that I would have done that. What she did is nice in theory, but breast milk is a body fluid, therefore if she was HIV+, she could pass it along. Best not to use another mother's milk unless it has been screened.
For more information on breastfeeding in general for anyone interested, this gives a quick summary of why it is so important, both for the health of the mother and the health of children- http://www.promom.org/101/

[DemExpat]

11. Hi, Populistmom....

I feel pretty much an expert too after breastfeeding for over 7 years.....

After the news tonight about babies in Israel dying from formula with too little vitmain B1, it just confirms my very strong feeling that breast IS best.

DemEx

[populistmom]

12. There's so much its overwhelming

I don't even want to begin to imagine what those poor babies in Iraq are going through. Iraq had a relatively low rate of breastfeeding and over the past months with access to clean water being hampered, well, I can imagine the infant mortality rate over there has probably shot through the roof.
If you've never read it, check out the book Milk, Money, and Madness. It's a real eyeopener on the corporate and political history behind the marketing and promotion of artificial baby milk.

[Ilsa]

13. I'll be taking the Board exam in about two years

for the IBCLC exam (I'm already an RN). That's how long it will take for me to finish my hours for it. I've been breastfeeding my babies for the last six and one half years, and i actually have several certifications regarding breastfeeding. I really like your post; it was accurate and Right On!

There is actually high demand for breastmilk and it is very expensive due to the costs of testing and processing it. It is used in many NICU's for preemies and sick children whose mothers are unable to breastfeed. Why? Because those babies get well much faster on breastmilk vs formula, have fewer side effects, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (gangrenous bowels). Mortality rates dropped from 14% to less than 1% when 30 week preemies were placed on breastmilk.

Human milk has also been used for nutrition for cancer patients who are unable to tolerate any other feedings.

Scientists are still finding things in human milk that have not been duplicated in formulas. If formula was perfect, why would they have to keep changing it? Formulas are subject to recalls, contamination by microbiological organisms, glass, etc. Solely, breastmilk is the optimum food for babies through the middle of their first year, and is recommended for the entire first year, and beyond if mother and baby wish to continue as it still is healthy for them both.

[populistmom]

15. Those hours are overwhelming, aren't they?

I spent a couple of years as a post partum doula before I stopped working when I had my youngest. I loved it so much and decided it was a calling of sorts. It's going to take me a loooonnnngggg time to get those hours in once I am an RN, but I can't wait. (Although ideally, I'll work in a Baby Friendly hospital environment.)
Actually, my husband is an RRT who works with NICU patients and my mom was a NICU nurse for 20 years, so at least I never have to argue my opinions of the subject with clueless family members. Even when I was born (1972), she said most of the NICU nurses and the wives of the doctors breastfed because they saw the benefits to the babies. Unfortunately, in the early 70's there were few others who did breastfeed.
Anyway, it's neat to see someone in the same field (albiet a few years ahead of me). Keep up the good work!! :) :thumbsup:

[Gephard]

8. What udder nonsense

[bif]

9. Why not make cheese out of it?

n/t

[CO Liberal]

10. They Mentioned This On The Morning News

KRDO, the ABC affiliate in Colorado Springs. They said the mother got a call from some guy who asked if he could get it in chocolate.....

:9