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Breastfeeding's Latest Controversey: Milk Banks vs. Milk Swaps

Breastfeeding Milk

First Posted: 04/12/11 04:13 PM ET Updated: 06/12/11 06:12 AM ET

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TIME Healthland:

In the past, breast milk has been offered for sale -- and subsequently pulled -- on Craigslist and eBay. But milk-swappers don't charge. To them, sharing breast milk is the modern-day equivalent of wet nursing, where mothers who've got a freezer full can browse the Internet in search of mothers who need extra.

Read the whole story: TIME Healthland

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In the past, breast milk has been offered for sale -- and subsequently pulled -- on Craigslist and eBay. But milk-swappers don't charge. To them, sharing breast milk is the modern-day equivalent of we...
In the past, breast milk has been offered for sale -- and subsequently pulled -- on Craigslist and eBay. But milk-swappers don't charge. To them, sharing breast milk is the modern-day equivalent of we...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MexiChick67
Que? Que? Queee?
443 Fans
03:12 AM on 04/15/2011
It's wonderful that women are sharing such a wonderful gift, but I'm still concerned that there are risks. HIV, hepatitis, etc. can be transferred via breast milk. It would be the equivalent of having unprotected s ex with a stranger. Giving your child breast milk should not give him or her a fatal disease.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
NWmom
20 Fans
04:35 AM on 04/13/2011
I think it is so wonderful of these women to lend support to other mothers. How generous! I wish I had known about milk swapping when I was nursing my children, I just tossed my extra stored milk when my babies were grown! What a waste.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RMankovitz
Researcher, inventor, entrepreneur, author
215 Fans
 
05:03 PM on 04/12/2011
Nature, in her infinite wonder, provides a backup for mothers that are unable to breastfeed their babies.

A woman does not have to be pregnant to produce breast milk. Induced lactation via nipple stimulation may allow adoptive mothers, sisters, and even post-menopausal grandmothers to nurse a baby. Here is a link to the La Leche League on the subject:

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/adopt.html .

In "The Wellness Project," there are a few hypotheses as to why nature enabled non-pregnant and even post-menopausal woman to breastfeed, along with other clues from nature.

Roy Mankovitz, Director
http://www.MontecitoWellness.com
A research organization
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