I have wondered for a long time *not a debate*

**Kazmar** · November 2nd, 2010, 03:39 PM

Sorry ladies I have been out all day but just going through the thread now

**Fleur** · November 2nd, 2010, 05:28 PM

hmmm, sorry but I found that abit aggressive. Breastmilk is a body fluid and the drinking of other peoples body fluid such as breastmilk, urine etc does not sit comfortably with some people.

I don't go out to my backyard, kneel beneath a cow and suck on it's teat...I do, however, drink cows milk that has been pasturized to remove as many microbials as possible. When they can find an appropriate way of removing contaminates out of breastmilk (which pasturizing is not suitable because it is suggested the heating of breastmilk removes the nutrients anyway) I will consider using donated BM for my DD.

For the record, I had blood tests before my milk was accepted, and 6 months later also. The donated milk is pasteurised & then tested again for contaminants. Considering that most of the milk bank milk goes to premmie or very sick babies, they are extremely dilgent about making sure it's safe to give.

So you don't drink cows milk? It's someone else's breast milk, just the "someone else" eats grass and says moo.

And that's pretty much what I said to my kids (who were grossed out by the idea of drinking my EBM)

For me, it isn't about BM v ABM (I see that as a completely separate issue), it is about the very real risk of women being exploited for their milk. Just where do all of those who support the use of BM in place of ABM think all the milk required is going to come from? Do you have any idea of how many women it would take to fill the gap of formula? And how will these women be compensated for it, if at all? And they would have to be compensated in some form because how is it right that women wouldn't get anything for doing it yet the ones that are selling it make all the money kwim. It's a wonderful idea in theory, but it is a rather Utopian one that will never fly. Besides, how long do you think it will take Nestle and Wyeth etc to try to get in on it? Afterall, they are the ones who will lose billions of $$ if it ever happened and they will want a slice of the action considering how large the baby food market it. And if that happens, well we may as well be back where we started from. I fully support 100% the use of milk banks for ill and prem babies, but for the wider population of babies it just wouldn't work.

well said Trillian, what i was kind of thinking this morning but couldn't formulate

**Barb Glare** · November 3rd, 2010, 07:22 AM

Popping in very late, but just noted the original contention that "formula is made in a factory" - nup, it's the milk of another animal! My daughter just started her first after school job, and while I grew up on a farm - it brought it back to me abruptly when I picked her up from work....the smell, the cowsh***. Ughhh

***LittleMissSummer*** · November 3rd, 2010, 07:33 AM

Popping in very late, but just noted the original contention that "formula is made in a factory" - nup, it's the milk of another animal! My daughter just started her first after school job, and while I grew up on a farm - it brought it back to me abruptly when I picked her up from work....the smell, the cowsh***. Ughhh

I've just googled whats in formula and it hasnt mentioned anything about milk from another animal..... can you show me where you got this from?