Is informal sharing of breastmilk always safe?

The Growing Trend of Informal Breastmilk Sharing
In recent years, the informal sharing of breastmilk has gained traction, particularly amid formula shortages that have left many parents scrambling for alternatives. This practice, while rooted in a long history of communal breastfeeding, raises significant safety concerns that warrant careful consideration.
The Risks Involved
Experts caution that informal breastmilk sharing is fraught with potential hazards. A survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revealed that over 50% of mothers surveyed expressed little concern about the safety of sharing breastmilk, and nearly 80% did not screen their donors due to a misplaced sense of trust. This lack of vigilance can lead to serious health risks for infants, as breastmilk can transmit infections and diseases if not properly screened.
The Institute for Breastfeeding and Lactation Education has highlighted that informal donor breastmilk can pose safety hazards, including the risk of contamination and the transmission of pathogens. Unlike regulated milk banks, which screen donors and pasteurize milk to eliminate harmful bacteria, informal sharing lacks these safeguards. This can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable infants, such as those born prematurely or with compromised immune systems.
The Community Aspect
Despite the risks, many parents are drawn to the idea of sharing breastmilk as a community resource. Historically, mothers have shared breastmilk among family and friends, especially in times of crisis, such as maternal illness or natural disasters. This communal approach can be lifesaving, but it is essential to differentiate between trusted networks and broader informal sharing practices that occur online.
Online platforms facilitating breastmilk sharing have proliferated, creating a complex landscape where safety is not guaranteed. While these networks can foster a sense of community and support, they also expose participants to unregulated practices that can jeopardize infant health.
Expert Recommendations
Public health authorities in several countries actively discourage informal breastmilk sharing, emphasizing the importance of using regulated milk banks that adhere to strict safety protocols. The consensus among health professionals is clear: while the intention behind sharing breastmilk may be altruistic, the potential risks to infants cannot be overlooked.
Parents considering informal breastmilk sharing should be aware of these risks and take steps to ensure the safety of the milk. This includes asking potential donors about their health history, screening for infectious diseases, and understanding the proper handling and storage of breastmilk.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while informal breastmilk sharing can be seen as a supportive community practice, it is not without significant risks. Parents must weigh the benefits against the potential dangers and prioritize their infants’ health by seeking safe, regulated alternatives whenever possible. As the conversation around breastmilk sharing continues to evolve, it is crucial for parents to stay informed and vigilant.

Can anything be passed through breast milk?

Infectious organisms can reach the breast milk either by secretion in the fluid or cellular components of breast milk or by contamination of the milk at the time of or after expression.

Is it okay to breastfeed a baby that isn’t yours?

Informal milk sharing refers to breastfeeding someone else’s child, sharing milk with strangers, or other methods outside of donating through an official bank. While the practice of wet-nursing has been around for centuries, breastfeeding a child you don’t know poses health risks.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

Can I breastfeed a child that is not mine?

It is possible to establish milk production for an adopted baby, even if you have never been pregnant or given birth. The amount of milk you may produce depends on many factors. Most mothers are able to produce at least a little milk.

How safe is sharing breast milk?

Risks for the baby include exposure to infectious diseases, including HIV, to chemical contaminants, such as some illegal drugs, and to a limited number of prescription drugs that might be in the human milk, if the donor has not been adequately screened.

Is it safe to try your wife’s breast milk?

However, drinking breast milk is safe only if it is from your partner whom you know well. This is because breast milk is a bodily fluid, and you do not want yourself to be at risk of infectious diseases such as cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus, or syphilis.

Is it okay to breastfeed my friends’ baby?

That’s pretty risky—even if you’re getting milk from a friend, says women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D. “Human milk is a bodily fluid, and cross-nursing can spread diseases,” she says—those include hepatitis, HIV, and other STDs.

What to do if baby drinks someone else’s breast milk?

Discuss the event with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child who was given another mother’s milk:

1. Inform them that their child was given another mother’s expressed breast milk.
2. Inform them that the risk of transmission of infectious diseases is small.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

Does breastmilk lose nutrients when pumped?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), freshly expressed breast milk can be safely kept at room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. Generally, when freshly pumped, breast milk is at its peak regarding nutrients.