How do you feel about unscreened donor milk?

[Maruschke]

A very interesting thread! My first thoughts are that would be happy with unscreened milk from someone I knew or someone that knew someone I knew and that mutual friend was happy to vouch for them.

I am considering seeking out some donor milk for DD due in December, so I am watching all this info with interest.

There are heaps of groups on facebook who do just this. Try human milk 4 human babies, mothers' milk bank etc.

[Cranky Kitten]

I'll admit I'm something of a conservative when it comes to this - I'd prefer to access donor milk through a milk bank rather than take the chance on someone else's lifestyle. I'd have to know them extremely well to consider using donated milk from them.

[HotI]

i would prefer to find a donor than go through a milk bank because of the processing of the milk that is done in a milk bank. i read an article somewhere that the processing can destroy some of the goodies in the breastmilk.

[RhiChiChi]

I'll admit I'm something of a conservative when it comes to this - I'd prefer to access donor milk through a milk bank rather than take the chance on someone else's lifestyle. I'd have to know them extremely well to consider using donated milk from them.

I feel this way atm but haven't been faced with the decision of using donor milk.

TBH it never entered my mind with my DD who was FF. I don't recall donor milk being offered as an alternative.... Something perhaps people should be directed to prior to being offered formula. (I had DD in a private hospital)

[FabFiona]

On the thread tangent, here are recent stat for women and HIV in Australia.

http://www.afao.org.au/library/hiv-a...ia-an-overview

In 2010, 143 women were newly-diagnosed with HIV in Australia.

It was Barb who originally made the point about one diagnosis in Australian Born women every 2 years. This article only refers to women in Australia, so I'm assuming the figure includes those that have migrated to Australia. I'm not sure why for the purpose of this discussion they would be excluded though.

[lady_neon]

Interesting thread.

Thing is, often when the call for milk goes out the people that are willing to do it are most likely part of a natural parenting community, so even if you don't know them, someone you know does.. You know they have the same ideas about BF as you do, which is why they are willing to donate milk. It's not like they are just completely random strangers..

It depends on the situation. If it was a gift directly from a woman to my baby I would be guided by my knowledge of her lifestyle and her knowledge of her health. If it was from a milk bank, then I would want it screened because I wouldn't have access to information about the donors in the same way that I would in a more informal donation.

These 2.

Not having been in a situation to comment on, it's hard to say - I might think differently in the future. Right now though, I would happily use (and offer) breast milk from an unscreened close friend/family member who I trust and know their lifestyle. However if the milk is from a stranger I would absoloutley be using a milk bank.

My younger sister was born prematurely and my mother's milk hadn't come in, so the hossy had to use donated breast milk - parents were told formula was just uncomparable. At one stage there was no breast milk to use, so they used formula and my sister's health deteriorated quickly and they thought she wouldn't make it. As soon as breast milk was sourced, she perked right up. In that situation I think I'd be inclined to use unscreened milk. Once she was out of hospital (4 months later) she was FF and is now a strong, healthy 17 yo.