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

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Even after having read all the info, I'm still going to say that I'd not use bank milk, but ask a friend with a baby to help me. I just can't bring myself to trust a BM bank right now, but then I've never accepted a blood transfusion either and I donate blood. I'd donate milk too, just still wonder about the process and how it would work too much. I wouldn't do it until after I'd donated myself, if at all.

[beckles]

yay jo thanks for saying that, sometimes i feel a bit isolated here. hugs.

[Krisvee]

Beckles - I agree with you also!

[beckles]

thanks guys, hugs.

[BellyBelly]

*bump*

[*EmJa*]

I voted no and dont have anything against anyone that would use the banks but i just wouldnt.

[Heaven]

ooohhh.....interesting.
It reminds me of a story my mum told me once. She was looking after my aunty's baby (her sister in law's baby) but they were like sisters, known each other since little. And they both had boys at the same age. Anyway, her nephew would not stop crying and was hungry and my aunty was late. Mum didn't know what to do so she breast fed him a bit. She thought it would be ok but said she felt really weird and grossed out by it and it just felt wrong. She said she only gave him a little bit to stop him crying and never told my aunty coz she was worried what she would say. I wonder how wet-nurses could do it, and how ppl could give their babies to others to feed. I think it would weird me out too. But I think donated milk is ok.

[julie26]

I say YES with no hesitation, my twins born 8 weeks early, and with the knowledge I have now of the importance of breast milk I say YES YES YES

Julie

[*Efjay*]

Gees this thread brings back memorys!

Yes I would Support
Yes I would Give
Yes I would Use

[Beach Mama]

Wow interesting! Having said that Im unsure what I would do... knowing the benefits of bfing etc. I know it would be the best thing but the thought of it makes me feel squirmy even knowing that the procedures for screening etc would be stringent. I just looked at Izzy and I wonder if its a jealousy thing- I know that sounds weird - will have to think more and post back later!....

[Bathsheba]

I'm still of the same mind: if my baby, especially if he/she was prem and highly vulnerable I would choose screened human breast milk just like I would choose screened human blood if a transfusion was needed.

Both are simply life saving fluids in my mind. The more i read about artifical milk the more dubious i am... it's ok for my 12 month old as a compliment to my own diminished supply of BM but if I had a premmie that would be different.

[maddysmummy]

no i wouldnt give maddy someone else milk.. just doesnt seem right!

[Bathsheba]

I've been re-reading earlier comments... some nearly a year old! Liz's (I hope you don't mind matey!) seems to sum a lot of them up:

QUOTE:

First reaction: ICK.. no way!
2nd thought: Think it's a good idea.. but wouldn't trust the screening (thinking about the complications associated with blood etc.. screening just isn't good enough)
3rd thought: After reading about it being pasteurised etc etc.. I think I probably would consider it.. especially for a premmy.

[becmc]

Yep definately. Rather give my bub milk from a human mum than a cow.

[christy]

Same response from me.... second time around:

YES YES YES

[BellyBelly]

I bumped this due to the article below from today, which is going to be covered further in the media from activity at the ABA conference today...

Doctors call for breast milk banks (ABC News)

Neonatal specialists say the lives of many premature babies could be saved if there were more breast milk donation banks in Australia.

The first national breastfeeding conference is being held in Melbourne and will today hear about the success of the milk bank at Perth's King Edward Memorial Hospital.

The bank opened a year ago and has provided 55 premature babies with donated breast milk.

The bank's manager Dr Ben Hartmann says breast milk is better for the immature immune and digestive systems than artificial formula.

"When a mum does give birth prematurely, there can often be several reasons that she can't provide her own breast milk," he said.

"During those days we need to feed babies intravenously so if we can actually provide donor milk and get those babies onto full feeds, mum's milk then comes in and she can take over.

"It means we can get those IV lines out and that's a potential source of infection for babies."

Dr Hartmann says the lives of more premature babies could be saved if there were banks in other cities.

"Babies in our unit will be down to 23 weeks or 24 weeks gestation, I guess their immune system and their digestive system is quite immature," he said.

"We need to provide nutrition that's appropriate and in easily digestible forms but we also know that breast milk contains a lot of immunological protective properties."

[Bathsheba]

Thanks for posting the article again Kelly, now we're all on the same page so to speak.

I also think to myself: if my baby needed a blood transfusion would I opt for cow's blood? Ugh no way! It's very similar: both simply fluids with specific properties for sustaining life.

I don't deny the "ick" factor of donated human BM... but really logic should prevail when it comes to premmies As long as it was screened then it would scientifically be ideal for a premmie.... and I would use that as a basis for getting over the "ick" factor.

[Anna**]

I'd have no hesitation in both donating to or recieving from a milk bank.

I actually did apply to be a donor as I had oversupply, but it was too late in my breastfeeding journey before they got back to me (I had nearly weaned). Hopefully next bub will be a different story and I'll be able to donate.