Sharing human milk among family members and between families is a timeless practice.
In recent years, there has been an increased governmental investment in breastfeeding,
and more families are aware of the evidence supporting the improved health outcomes
of infants from human milk and breastfeeding. Thus, there has been a resultant resurgence
in informal milk sharing (arranged privately between families and facilitated by social
media networks). Formalized networks to facilitate milk sharing recommend including
health care professionals in the decision-making and risk-benefit analysis. However,
most health professionals are poorly informed of the practice and little specific,
evidence-based guidance exist; therefore, ideal family centered care may not be provided
(
Eats on Feets, 2014
,
Eats on Feets. (2014) The four pillars of safe breast milk sharing. Retrieved from http://www.eatsonfeets.org/#fourPillars.
Human milk 4 human babies, 2014
).Human milk 4 human babies (2014). Retrieved from http://hm4hb.net/.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Nursing OutlookAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Quality control of banked milk in Brasilia, Brazil.Journal of Human Lactation: Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. 2006; 22: 335-340
- Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 2012; 129: e827-e841
- What are the characteristics of the ideal human milk donor?.Journal of Human Lactation: Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. 1996; 12: 143-145
Brooks, E. (2014). Human milk sharing, selling, and donation: Legal and ethics angles. Retrieved from http://modules.ilca.org/products/2014_Webinars/WEBINAR_2014_10_Human_Milk_Sharing_Selling_Donation.html.
- Feasibility of using flash-heated breastmilk as an infant feeding option for HIV-exposed, uninfected infants after 6 months of age in urban Tanzania.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999). 2012; 60: 43-50
- Retrospective review of serological testing of potential human milk donors.Archives of Disease in Childhood, Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 2010; 95: F118-F120
- Bacillus cereus and severe intestinal infections in preterm neonates: putative role of pooled breast milk.American Journal of Infection Control. 2013; 41: 918-921
- Endocrine treatment of male-to-female transsexuals using gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes : Official Journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association. 2005; 113: 586-592
Eats on Feets. (2014) The four pillars of safe breast milk sharing. Retrieved from http://www.eatsonfeets.org/#fourPillars.
- Got milk? Sharing human milk via the Internet.Public Health Reports. 2011; 126: 161-164
- ‘A better alternative’: Why women use peer-to-peer shared milk.Breastfeeding Review. 2014; 22: 11-21
- Milk sharing and formula feeding: Infant feeding risks in comparative perspective?.Australasian Medical Journal. 2012; 5: 275-283
- Evaluation and management of galactorrhea.American Family Physician. 2012; 85: 1073
Human milk 4 human babies (2014). Retrieved from http://hm4hb.net/.
- Locations.2014 (Retrieved from)
- Bacterial safety of flash-heated and unheated expressed breastmilk during storage.Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2006; 52: 399-405
- Cow's milk contamination of human milk purchased via the Internet.Pediatrics. 2015; 135: e1157-e1162
- Microbial contamination of human milk purchased via the Internet.Pediatrics. 2013; 132: e1227
- Breast milk sharing via the Internet: The practice and health and safety considerations.Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2014; 18: 1471-1479
- Characteristics of breast milk and serology of women donating breast milk to a milk bank.Archives of Disease in Childhood, Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 2004; 89: F440-F441
- Informal milk sharing: What nurses need to know.MCN. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. 2014; 39: 369-374
- Contextualizing online human milk sharing: Structural factors and lactation disparity among middle income women in the U.S.Social science & medicine (1982). 2014; 122: 140-147
- Models of milk banking in South Africa.2011 (Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved from American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012.)
- A mixed-methods observational study of human milk sharing communities on Facebook.Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. 2014; 9: 128-134
- The effect of flash pasteurization of milk upon the flavor and texture of Cheddar Cheese.Journal of Dairy Science. 1928; 11: 292-298
- Human Milk Banking Association of North America.2010 (Retrieved from)
- Core competencies in human milk & breastfeeding: Policy and practice implications for nurses.Nursing Outlook. 2014; 62: 297-298
- The surgeon general's call to breastfeeding action-policy and practice implications for nurses.Nursing Outlook. 2011; 59: 174-176
- The critical role of nurses in lactation support.The Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2010; 58: 458-461
- Adverse reactions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Reports from a spontaneous reporting system.Drug Safety. 1999; 20: 277-287
- The surgeon general's call to action to support breastfeeding.US. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2011 (Retrieved from)
- Use of donor human milk.2010 (Retrieved from)
- Core competencies in breastfeeding care and services for all health professionals.2010 (Retrieved from)
- The four pillars of safe breast milk sharing.Midwifery today with international midwife. 2012; 101: 34-37
- Transgender men and lactation: What nurses need to know.MCN. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. 2015; 40: 32-38
Article info
Footnotes
Corresponding author: Cheryl G. Sullivan, American Academy of Nursing, 1000 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005. E-mail address: [email protected] (C.G. Sullivan).
