Should We Use Donor Breast Milk?
!!!Why Use Donor Breast Milk?
There are times when a mother does not or cannot breastfeed her baby as in the case of separation, illness, death of the mother, the mother has a low breast milk supply, or simply the mother chooses not to breastfeed but wants her baby to have the benefits that come from breast milk. Hospitals that care for premature infants will use donor breast milk because of the additional nutrients in breast milk that provide antibodies and protection again disease as well as the right amounts of other nutrients that the babies are able to digest.
!!!What Are the Sources of Donor Breast Milk?
The sources of breast milk are many and varied.
*Friends or relatives
*Advertisements on the internet
*Newspaper or magazine ads
*Breast milk banks
The price for breast milk varies depending upon the source and the seller. Two other questions that should be asked when using donor breast milk:
#Is the milk authentically …show more content…
breast milk?
#How do I know that it is safe and free of contaminants?
!!!What Makes Donor Breast Milk Unsafe?
As with any other product, there is money to be made in the sale. Therefore, many people advertise breast milk for sale to make a profit. In order to increase the volume of the milk and make more money, some sellers will mix the breast milk with cow's milk. This can be a problem for infants who are unable to digest cow's milk or have an allergy to cow's milk.
Another problem with purchasing breast milk is to know whether or not it has been collected and stored safely to avoid bacterial contamination. When purchasing milk from an unknown vendor, there is little known about whether or not handling of the milk has been adequate and whether or not it has been stored at the proper temperatures to avoid bacterial growth.
||Storage||Temperature||Length of Time
|Countertop|up to 77 degrees F|6-8 hours
|Refrigerator|39 degrees F|5 days
|Freezer|0 degrees F|3-6 months
Other contaminants in breast milk can come from the donor herself. There are many chemical contaminants that can be found in breast milk.
*Recreational drugs taken by the mother, such as opioids, hallucinogens, marijuana, etc.
*Drugs taken by the mother, such as nicotine and chemicals from tobacco, alcohol
*Environmental contaminants, such as pesticides, heavy metals
*Prescription medications
*Viruses, such as CMV (cytomegalovirus), HIV, Hepatitis B and C, West Nile Virus, etc.
*Bacteria, such as E. Coli and Staphylococcus
!!!Ensuring Safe Donor Breast Milk
Because there is such a great need for donor breast milk, donor milk banks have been established all over the world. In the United States organizations such as the Human Milk Banking Association of North America can assist mothers in finding a milk bank in her region. Milk from such banks can be more expensive than from other private sources. However, they have processes that can provide assurances regarding milk safety:
*Testing and screening of donors for disease and drug use prior to acceptance of donations
*Testing of milk for viruses, bacteria, environmental contaminants, heavy metals, and drugs
*Proper collection, handling, and storage of milk at the proper temperatures to ensure safety and freshness
*Pasteurization of milk to kill bacteria
*Testing of milk prior to release to ensure no contamination or bacterial growth
!!!Lesson Summary
The need for donor breast milk is widespread for individual mothers as well as hospitals caring for newborns.
There are many sources of breast milk including private donors found through the internet and breast milk donor banks. Individuals are discouraged from purchasing milk from private donors until they can ensure that the milk is completely safe for infant consumption. This includes making sure the breast milk has not been mixed with cow's milk or other liquids to expand the volume; that the milk is not contaminated with drugs, chemicals, viruses, or bacteria; and that the milk has been handled and stored properly at temperatures to maintain freshness and safety. Donor milk banks are available all over the world and regionally in the United States to provide breast milk; these milk banks use safeguards such as donor screening and testing, milk testing, pasteurization of milk, and safe storage until distribution. Following these guidelines will help to ensure that babies receive breast milk that is both nourishing and safe for
them.
There are times when a mother does not or cannot breastfeed her baby as in the case of separation, illness, death of the mother, the mother has a low breast milk supply, or simply the mother chooses not to breastfeed but wants her baby to have the benefits that come from breast milk. Hospitals that care for premature infants will use donor breast milk because of the additional nutrients in breast milk that provide antibodies and protection again disease as well as the right amounts of other nutrients that the babies are able to digest.
!!!What Are the Sources of Donor Breast Milk?
The sources of breast milk are many and varied.
*Friends or relatives
*Advertisements on the internet
*Newspaper or magazine ads
*Breast milk banks
The price for breast milk varies depending upon the source and the seller. Two other questions that should be asked when using donor breast milk:
#Is the milk authentically …show more content…
breast milk?
#How do I know that it is safe and free of contaminants?
!!!What Makes Donor Breast Milk Unsafe?
As with any other product, there is money to be made in the sale. Therefore, many people advertise breast milk for sale to make a profit. In order to increase the volume of the milk and make more money, some sellers will mix the breast milk with cow's milk. This can be a problem for infants who are unable to digest cow's milk or have an allergy to cow's milk.
Another problem with purchasing breast milk is to know whether or not it has been collected and stored safely to avoid bacterial contamination. When purchasing milk from an unknown vendor, there is little known about whether or not handling of the milk has been adequate and whether or not it has been stored at the proper temperatures to avoid bacterial growth.
||Storage||Temperature||Length of Time
|Countertop|up to 77 degrees F|6-8 hours
|Refrigerator|39 degrees F|5 days
|Freezer|0 degrees F|3-6 months
Other contaminants in breast milk can come from the donor herself. There are many chemical contaminants that can be found in breast milk.
*Recreational drugs taken by the mother, such as opioids, hallucinogens, marijuana, etc.
*Drugs taken by the mother, such as nicotine and chemicals from tobacco, alcohol
*Environmental contaminants, such as pesticides, heavy metals
*Prescription medications
*Viruses, such as CMV (cytomegalovirus), HIV, Hepatitis B and C, West Nile Virus, etc.
*Bacteria, such as E. Coli and Staphylococcus
!!!Ensuring Safe Donor Breast Milk
Because there is such a great need for donor breast milk, donor milk banks have been established all over the world. In the United States organizations such as the Human Milk Banking Association of North America can assist mothers in finding a milk bank in her region. Milk from such banks can be more expensive than from other private sources. However, they have processes that can provide assurances regarding milk safety:
*Testing and screening of donors for disease and drug use prior to acceptance of donations
*Testing of milk for viruses, bacteria, environmental contaminants, heavy metals, and drugs
*Proper collection, handling, and storage of milk at the proper temperatures to ensure safety and freshness
*Pasteurization of milk to kill bacteria
*Testing of milk prior to release to ensure no contamination or bacterial growth
!!!Lesson Summary
The need for donor breast milk is widespread for individual mothers as well as hospitals caring for newborns.
There are many sources of breast milk including private donors found through the internet and breast milk donor banks. Individuals are discouraged from purchasing milk from private donors until they can ensure that the milk is completely safe for infant consumption. This includes making sure the breast milk has not been mixed with cow's milk or other liquids to expand the volume; that the milk is not contaminated with drugs, chemicals, viruses, or bacteria; and that the milk has been handled and stored properly at temperatures to maintain freshness and safety. Donor milk banks are available all over the world and regionally in the United States to provide breast milk; these milk banks use safeguards such as donor screening and testing, milk testing, pasteurization of milk, and safe storage until distribution. Following these guidelines will help to ensure that babies receive breast milk that is both nourishing and safe for
them.