Online Milk Sharing: The Modern Wet Nurse

Until the age of formula, when a woman could nor or chose not to breastfeed, she would employ a wet nurse, or a family member who was lactating would feed the baby.  In some cases, the wet nurses were slaves.

Below is a photo of a slave feeding a white baby.  Slavery breaks my heart.  Even more so, many slaves were not allowed to nurse their own children when they were nursing their owner's babies. and had to find wet nurses for their own babies.

Today, we have pasteurized milk banks where hospitals caring for preterm babies can procure milk for them.  I attended a seminar on the topic a few years ago and learned that in one case, where the mother died around the time of childbirth, the insurance company paid for pasteurized breast milk for the first year of her baby's life.

Just a few weeks ago -- although I have not confirmed it -- I heard first of all that Prince William and Princess Kate were giving Prince George pasteurized milk.  I wondered why.  Then I heard later that Kate is pregnant again.  Again, I have not tried to confirm this.  However, if what I've heard is true, this could explain why they are purchasing PHM (pasteurized human milk).  I do know that Prince William is a strong believer in organic foods, so continuing to give his baby HM via a milk bank would be his "natural" choice.

This source of milk is costly.  It also tends to be reserved for use by sick and preterm babies still in the hospital.  However, the future King of England probably deserves special consideration.  They know that they would prefer a healthier and more intelligent King than you might have if Prince George were to be formula fed.  The royal family does have enough funds to purchase PHM, which in America, currently costs about $5 an ounce, including shipping.

But what about women who strongly believe that babies deserve HM, even when mothers can't breastfeed?  Well, there is an online resource for "milk sharing"  It can be found at https://www.facebook.com/hm4hb

Their web page is www.HM4HB.net

Clearly, this a controversial topic.  One study was done which seemed to discourage it, but then a rebuttal was written by a physician who has expertise in breastfeeding.  She pointed out flaws in the study.  You an read her response on this blog.  Just click here.

At this point, I am not going to advocate for milk sharing.  I WILL advocate for a mother to research her options and then decide what she thinks is best for her baby.  

Human Milk for Human Babies is a global organization, started in 2010.  It is set up so women can find donor milk in their communities, which sometimes means state.  Mothers post a need, and someone who lives in their community or state, or as close by as possible can contact the mother and arrange transfer of the milk.  The only cost is for shipping.  The milk is donated.

Trust is a big factor.  The receiving mother must trust that the donating mother is in good health.  She must trust that the milk has been stored properly and shipped properly.  A certain level of risk is involved.  However, women who desire to donate unused breast milk tend to do so out of a belief that what they are doing is going to help another baby.  Rare would be the case where a mother would knowingly send milk if she is aware of any reason her milk might cause harm.  There could be a situation where she has an undiagnosed rare condition where her milk should not be given.  (See "When Breast is Not Best" on this blog).

Still, some women weigh the risks of formula feeding and the risks of the "modern wet nurse" of milk sharing and decide human milk from a source they consider to be safe is preferable to formula.

I have no doubt, however, that at some point the government will get involved, possibly from pressure from formula companies, and this option will become regulated or illegal.

Anyway, while it is still around in its current form, it is a relatively simple option for some mothers.