Buying breast milk: Is it safe to buy milk from another mother?

Did you know that you can buy breast milk in the Philippines online? How much is breast milk price in the Philippines? For mommies who are not blessed with abundant breast milk or are having difficulty getting their child to latch or suck, buying breast milk may be the only solution to their problem.

The benefits of breast milk are widely known and some moms will do anything, including getting milk from another mother, to exclusively feed their child colostrum and human milk.

Buying breast milk price in the Philippines

Only the Breast is a very popular site in the US that is basically the craigslist for breast milk. Here, mothers producing an excess of milk put up their supply for sale, advertising their diets and the weight of their babies. You could call it your digital wet nurse.

In countries like the Philippines, breast milk is usually freely given to neighbors and relatives who are willing to drop by and pick up a frozen batch from the lactating mother’s house. But if you want to sell or buy breast milk, there are five authorized banks:

• UP-Philippine General Hospital
• Fabella Hospital
• Philippine Children’s Medical Center
• Government-run Makati Human Milk Bank
• Zamboanga City Medical Center

These facilities keep their milk on hand for premature babies, motherless infants, babies with mothers who are unable to express milk, malnourished babies, and babies in neonatal intensive care units. Their screening process for donors is strict and involves the following:

• Pasteurization and safety tests
• Specialized bottles, refrigerators, freezers, storage units

Breast milk-sharing services and groups can also be found on Facebook.

Keep in mind, though, that no two formulations of breast milk are alike. The mother’s body adjusts to the specific nutritional needs of her child so what one baby is drinking is different from another. This is why ads on Only the Breast include their diet and medicines plus their baby’s appearance to help buyers understand what the milk could possibly contain.

Is donor breast milk safe?

The practice of selling breast milk isn’t actually frowned upon. As there are hospitals that sell breast milk, especially to preemies whose mothers cannot produce enough milk. However, the sourcing is always what comes to be questioned.

How much is breast milk price in the Philippines?

Usually, Filipino mothers don’t question the quality of human milk if they personally know the lactating mom. But when you start seeing ads for breast milk at Php 80 an ounce. You’ll have to wonder if it’s actual human milk and if it’s been stored correctly.

Official milk banks pasteurize the milk to ensure purity and prevent contamination. These medical facilities, however, cost up to Php 180 an ounce.

Online-sourced milk is much cheaper with some mothers selling for Php 40 an ounce. The storage, handling and sourcing of these milk batches, however, can be considered unreliable.

However, breast milk from a donor can be safe when it’s properly screened.  Human milk banks follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety and quality of donor breast milk. Here are some key considerations:

1. Donor Screening:

Donors are typically carefully screened for health conditions and lifestyle factors that may affect the safety of their breast milk. This screening process helps minimize the risk of transmitting infections or other contaminants through the donated milk.

2. Pasteurization:

Most human milk banks pasteurize donated breast milk to kill bacteria and viruses while preserving the majority of the milk’s nutritional and immunological properties. Pasteurization is an important step in ensuring the safety of the milk.

3. Testing:

Some milk banks may perform additional testing on donated milk to ensure its safety. This may include testing for bacteria and viruses.

4. Storage and Handling:

Proper storage and handling procedures are crucial to maintaining the safety of donated breast milk. Milk banks often provide guidelines to donors on how to collect, store, and transport the milk.

5. Recipient Screening:

Recipients of donor breast milk are also often screened to ensure that the milk is being given to infants who genuinely need it and to prevent any potential health risks.

It’s important to obtain donor breast milk from reputable human milk banks or organizations that follow established guidelines and regulations.

The safety of donor breast milk may vary depending on the source, so it’s essential to ensure that the milk has been collected, processed, and handled according to established safety standards.

If you have specific concerns or questions about donor breast milk, it’s advisable to consult with healthcare professionals or contact the human milk bank from which the milk originates for more detailed information on their safety protocols.

Buying breast milk online: Research gives you the facts

A study conducted by The BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal), shows that breast milk bought online and in official hospital banks is not as safe as you think. Sarah Steele, a health professor at the Queen Mary University in London who co-authored the study says, “It’s really, really, really dangerous,” when talking about buying breast milk online.

Another study conducted a few years ago found fecal matter and bacteria in most of the milk samples sourced from online stores. Take a look at the conclusions you can draw from the findings:

• Online-sourced breast milk can carry diseases.

First, just like any fluid secreted by the human body, breast milk can contain bacteria and viruses. Milk banks always screen their providers for diseases before accepting any batch while online breast milk stores have no such facility.

Online sellers undergo no screening for diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV, human T cell lymphotropic virus, and syphilis. Twenty-one percent of online samples have shown the presence of cytomegalovirus, a virus that is fatal in newborn infants.

• Breast milk spoils very easily and can build up bacteria even before complete spoilage.

According to the study, only nine out of the 101 samples they had tested from online sellers did not contain any bacteria. Seventy-four percent of all the samples tested contained gram-negative bacteria and viral colonies. All these mean that breast milk providers do not know how to properly store their breast milk.

• Online-sourced breast milk can contain fillers.

Some providers, in their desire for more revenue, add water and even cow’s milk to breast milk bottles.

• Online breast milk sellers are usually unaware of how to store, transport and preserve breast milk.

In addition, sellers must transport and pack breast milk in sterile containers capable of withstanding handling and remaining in freezing temperatures.

The study observed that 25 percent of 102 samples suffered damage, rendering them unable to maintain the proper temperature and container for transport, leading to the buildup of bacteria and contamination.

• Lactating mothers selling breast milk online may be taking harmful drugs.

Also, the study found disturbing evidence that some samples contained bisphenol and other illicit drugs. Which may have come from women who use dangerous substances while expressing milk.

• No regulatory framework exists for breast milk sold outside of hospitals or milk banks.

Importantly, as of now, there are no agencies, rules, or laws regulating the sale of milk outside of hospitals and official banks anywhere in the world. While the study says that not all breast milk bought online is harmful or contains dangerous substances, there is a high probability of adverse effects, especially with newborns and preemies.

Summary

In summary, while the idea of buying breast milk online in the Philippines may be tempting, it comes with considerable risks. Authorized breast milk banks, such as those in UP-Philippine General Hospital and Fabella Hospital, adhere to strict safety measures. Including donor screening and pasteurization.

On the contrary, online-sourced breast milk, as revealed by studies like The BMJ, poses dangers such as contamination, bacterial presence, and even the addition of fillers. The lack of regulation and screening for diseases in this informal market puts newborns and preemies at risk.

Lastly, we strongly recommend prioritizing authorized breast milk banks to ensure the safety and well-being of infants. While it’s understandable that mothers feel pressure to provide breast milk, the potential hazards associated with buying online underscore the need for informed and cautious decisions for the child’s health.

Additional information from Marhiel Garrote

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.