I would certainly never sell what my baby needed, but how about if you have an abundant supply or oversupply? I've seen that frozen breastmilk goes for $1-4 an ounce online, which would be a really tempting extra source of income. Anyone actually do this?
FYI - haven't actually had a baby yet, due in December, so I've got no idea about the reality of nursing
Re: Would you sell excess milk?
GSx1 - 05/13/2013
GSx2 for T&B - EDD 6/21/2015 - They're having a GIRL!
In Canada it's illegal to sell breastmilk. (although I am sure there are people doing it) I would feel weird selling it but I would donate it.
(EDIT It has been illegal, things change but I haven't checked recently)
Ditto this. I think it's a bit vain to sell something like breast milk.
This. I think I could justify selling some if I also donated. Especially after the first year of your child's life, when donations are no longer accepted.
Even though I would never personally sell the milk, I don't understand the moral reluctance to do so. In my mind, parents who are receiving donor milk would have to pay for formula to feed their children if they weren't receiving breast milk, so the argument that you are somehow depriving a child in need by charging a small fee doesn't make sense anymore than it would make sense to be outraged at formula companies for not just giving away their products for free.
Also, many of the moms I have known who have received donated milk could certainly have paid a fee for that milk. Just because someone can't BF doesn't mean they don't have sufficient financial stability. In fact, many women struggle to BF because they have to go back to work so early post-partum. For these women, paying another mother $100/week would be reasonable and would make it much easier for the recipient mother to feel good about continuing that relationship.
Again, I understand that there could be problems if BM became a commodity (mainly that some women could basically become exploited as "cash cows" and potentially sell milk that is contaminated in some way out of desperation for money), but to me this fear should be no different than the homeless people who are all lined up in front of the plasma bank on my way to work every morning. They are not donating purely for generous reasons--they are getting paid. But the people who receive that plasma don't care--it still saves lives, even if the donor was paid a reasonable fee for such a valuable product.
Again, I am not advocating one way or another--just wanted to add my two cents to this interesting conversation.
I've donated via Human Milk for Human Babies.
I also donate blood. To me, it's a wonderful opportunity to help someone, not a job.
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I've thought about using donor milk - I don't think I'd ever be willing to pay for it. I feel like someone who is donating it, is possibly doing it for a different reason than someone selling it. If someone is making money off it, would they be more likely to do something to it to "stretch" it (add water, etc)?
This totally.
GSx1 - 05/13/2013
GSx2 for T&B - EDD 6/21/2015 - They're having a GIRL!