Moms sell breast milk through social networks. Is it safe?
'23.12.2017'
Source: with the BBC
The sale of breast milk through social networks is quite common in various countries, including the UK, Russia and the United States. Experts Air force decided to find out why and how they do it, and also to ask the opinion of doctors about the safety of this method of feeding.
The Air Force writes about a woman named Bex Poole from England who had problems with breastfeeding. The baby stopped gaining weight, and the mother began to look for alternatives. She did not want to give the mixture because of its artificial composition, and cow's milk was afraid. A friend advised Becks to take milk in one of the Facebook communities where lactating mothers willingly shared an excess of this product.
Becks was contacted by a young mom, Sarah, from the same region, who had too much milk - and she was ready to share. As both women say, they met in the evening, and “there was a feeling that we were doing something illegal.” Both were satisfied - Sarah with the fact that she was able to help, and Becks with the fact that her baby finally received full breast milk.
The women themselves say that they trusted each other, were as open as possible, shared information about past illnesses. But is it really so safe? Neonatologist (newborn specialist) Gemma Holder believes that milk exchange is fraught with the exchange of diseases. Holder is an employee of one of the UK dairy banks, which collects and processes donor milk for premature babies. And in official institutions milk really undergoes serious checks, which cannot be said about a product taken "off hand." Donated milk is tested for infections, mothers are given blood tests for serious diseases, milk is pasteurized and then frozen. But at home, of course, no one does this. As Gemma says, in the milk of quite healthy women, for example, E. coli is often found.
Nevertheless, adherents of this "hand-held" exchange method believe that mothers perfectly understand all the risks and cope with their assessment, in addition, women have been sharing breast milk with each other for centuries, which was quite normal. And the WHO approves of this type of infant feeding. In any case, the mother makes the decision herself.
