If you had no breastmilk, would you use a breastmilk bank?

[*Efjay*]

FJ, if the milk is pasteurised then how does all the good stuff stay in it? Surely the important proteins would be denatured?

I think I would demand that the health checks were done on every donation if I were to use this for my baby: I'd also demand the milk be stored until the tests had been done.

Also, I'd not be happy taking my baby to a friend's house for a feed: accepting EBM from a friend would be OK, I could still feed my baby, but I couldn't have my baby being actually breastfed by someone else. Don't know if that's what you were suggesting, Debbie, but that's the thought I had on it.

Have a read of the link that is in Kelly's OP. It explains what happens with the milk & the screening process. Reading the websites info just made me more reassured about using it.

Also I think I would feel the same about my baby being put to anothers breast. I would happily take EMB from a close & trusted friend if needed. But I don't think i would be comfortable with my baby actually at the breast. Only because that is such an special thing between mother & baby & I think I would feel as though "MY" bonding with "MY" baby is being taken away from me KWIM??? If I was dead maybe then that would be ok if say both me & DH were killed & my SIL took the kids & just happened to BFing as well. I think I would be happy for her to my baby to the breast. After all there are alot of benifits for baby that comes from BREASTfeeding. It not all about the actual BM. But I don't plan on being dead anytime soon so..