"But why?" I ask.

"Because! It can carry diseases! And you don't know what the mother could be on! And it's someone else's bodily fluid!" is usually the general response I get.

So really? Why is it so taboo to give our babies the milk from a different mother of our species, but no one bats an eye at giving their babies a powdered variation of milk for a completely different species offspring? (not knocking formula, but really, think about it.)

The modern milk industry is not without problems and is not nearly as clean or beneficial in terms of diet as we have been made to believe:

Because of the mastitis epidemic in the U.S. dairy herd, the dairy industry continues to demand that American milk retain the highest allowable “somatic cell” concentration in the world. Somatic cell count, according to the industry’s own National Mastitis Council, “reflects the levels of infection and resultant inflammation in the mammary gland of dairy cows,” but somatic cells are not synonymous with pus cells, as has sometimes been misleadingly suggested. Somatic just means “body.” Just as normal human breast milk has somatic cells—mostly non-inflammatory white blood cells and epithelial cells sloughed off from the mammary gland ducts—so does milk from healthy cows. The problem is that many of our cows are not healthy.

According to the USDA, 1 in 6 dairy cows in the United States suffers from clinical mastitis, which is responsible for 1 in 6 dairy cow deaths on U.S. dairy farms. This level of disease is reflected in the concentration of somatic cells in the American milk supply. Somatic cell counts greater than a million per teaspoon are abnormal and “almost always” caused by mastitis. When a cow is infected, greater than 90% of the somatic cells in her milk are neutrophils, the inflammatory immune cells that form pus. The average somatic cell count in U.S. milk per spoonful is 1,120,000. (x)

Not only that but there are other diseases found in cow's milk:

• Bacillus cereus: These bacteria produce a toxin that can cause diarrhea and another that causes vomiting. Bacillus cereus spores are heat-resistant and may survive pasteurization. There have even been very rare cases linked to dried milk and dried infant formula.

• Brucella: Brucella is a bacterial microbe that is found in unpasteurized dairy products.Brucella infection, or Brucellosis, has also been called “Undulant Fever” because of the regular recurrence of fever associated with the disease.
• Campylobacter jejuni: Campylobacter jejuni is the most common bacteria to cause diarrheal disease in the U.S. and is found in raw milk and poultry. It has an increased chance of causing disease when consumed in milk, because the basic pH of milk neutralizes the acidity of the stomach.
• Coxiella burnetii: Coxiella infects a variety of animals, including livestock and pets. The microbe can be found in cow’s milk and is resistant to heat and drying. Infection byCoxiella results in Q fever, a high fever that may last up to 2 weeks.
• E. coli O157:H7: This particular strain of E. coli has been associated with a number of food-borne outbreaks and is the cause of bloody diarrhea. Frequently associated with dairy cattle, microbial contamination of raw milk and soft cheeses can result in disease.
• Listeria monocytogenes: Listeria is a common bacterial pathogen that is found in soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk. It can even survive below freezing temperatures and can therefore withstand refrigeration. It is particularly dangerous to individuals who have weakened immune systems, including pregnant women, AIDS patients, and the very young and very old.
• Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis: This strain of mycobacteria can withstand pasteurization and has been associated with the development of Crohn’s disease, also known as inflammatory bowel syndrome. However, whether or not these bacteria can actually infect humans remains controversial.
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The cause of “consumption,” a horrific wasting disease that first affects the lungs, Mycobacterium bovis is associated with consumption of raw milk and was one of the most common contaminants prior to the practice of pasteurization. M. bovis causes tuberculosis in cows and can be passed to humans via unpasteurized cow's milk, causing a disease that is very similar to M. tuberculosis.
• Salmonella: Salmonella contamination of raw milk and milk products has been the source of several outbreaks in recent years. Symptoms include diarrhea and high fever.
• Staphylococcus aureus: Staph aureus produces a toxin that causes explosive vomiting. The disease may be considered a consequence of actual food poisoning from simply consuming the toxin, rather than from an actual infection.
• Yersinia enterocolitica: Associated with raw milk and ice cream, among other foods, contamination is believed to be a consequence of a breakdown in sanitization and sterilization techniques at dairy processing facilities.(x)

Do you know how they attempt to neutralize these diseases? Pasteurization. "Well pasteurization is great and absolutely necessary!!!" you might think, but it breaks down many key elements in the milk.
You can also read an overview of the debunking of the whole "milk builds strong bones" claim here.


Even though donor milk is not tailor made to YOUR baby, it is at least designed for a human baby, which is a hell of a lot closer than cows milk. You may not understand why people choose to obtain donor milk over choosing formula, but that doesn't mean their ideas or beliefs are somehow unacceptable or taboo. There are many ways to ensure the milk being donated is safe, and the reasons for why a mother may want donated milk are abundant. And they need to be understood.

Is breastmilk donation safe?
Breastmilk donation is thought by many to be very safe when recipient parents take appropriate action to ensure that donors are well-screened and when they also involve a supportive care provider in the process of reviewing records. Home pasteurization is also an option to kill any bacteria or viruses that may be present in the milk and you may wish to seek advice from a Lactation Consultant on the proper process to follow.
Why can’t a mother provide milk for her own baby?
There are several reasons why a mother may not be able to meet her baby's needs:

• Mothers whom have adopted babies.

• Mothers may have had surgery that makes it difficult to produce a sufficient amount of milk.

• Mothers may have had a mastectomy.

• Mothers can have a temporary breast infection that must resolve before they can feed at the breast again.

• Mothers may have a legitimate lack of glandular tissue.

• Mothers of multiples may need additional supply.

• Medications taken by mother, such as chemotherapy drugs, may be harmful to the infant.

• Some mothers have a medical condition or chronic infection, such as HIV or hepatitis,that precludes breastfeeding.

If you are a mother who believes that you aren't making enough milk, please be sure to read here to learn aboutcreating abundant supply.
Who is suitable to donate breastmilk?
Most healthy women who are breastfeeding an infant and can set aside time each day to express milk for the good of other babies make a suitable breastmilk donor. Donors should be carefully screened and tested before their milk is accepted. In general, the following should also apply to all donors:

• Must be in general good health

• Must never use tobacco products or use illegal drugs

• Should not be taking medication or herbs, including over-the-counter medications and large doses of vitamins, unless yours and their care providers agrees to it's safety

• Must not consume alcohol 12 hours before pumping milk to donate

• Ideally, should be nursing an infant under one year of age, though mothers nursing older babies may be suitable to donate to families seeking milk for older infants/toddlers

• Must be willing to take a blood test to be screened for HIV 1 & 2, Hepatitis B & C, Syphilis, and HTLV 1 & 2

• Should be willing to limit caffeine intake

• Ideally in a stable, supportive, and committed relationship, if partnered (no more than 1 sexual partner). (x)

But now lets discuss the benefits of breastmilk over cows milk. Because if people can at least see the benefits they may be able to understand the reason why donor milk is preferred by some over cows milk.

• Breast milk provides the right balance of nutrients. It is the most natural and nutritious way to encourage your baby's development.
  
  
  
• To date, we have identified over 200 components in breast milk, and each plays a role not only in the baby's nutrition, but also in general development and growth as well as the development of the immune and nervous systems.
• Breast milk provides all of the calories your baby needs in the first 6 months. It has the perfect combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrate, and fluids that new-born babies require.
• Breast milk composition is very stable, even when the mother has a poor diet or is ill.
• Mother's milk contributes significantly to the growth and maturation of the baby's digestive system, which is not complete until around 6 months of age.
• The sugar (carbohydrate) and protein in breast milk are also designed to be used easily and more completely by the human baby.
• Breast milk prevents a shortage of vitamin A between 12 and 36 months.
  
  
  
• With less salt and less protein, breast milk is easier on a baby's kidneys.
• Breast milk decreases the risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia.
• Breast milk is a dynamic fluid that changes in composition throughout the day and throughout the course of lactation. It provides for the baby the specific nutrients that are needed at each age and in each situation. The varying composition of breast milk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs.
• Breast milk tastes different from feeding to feeding, Subtle changes in the taste of breast milk prepare babies to accept a variety of solid foods. (x)

Donor milk is absolutely a perfect and acceptable choice for a mother to feed her baby. It is milk made for the same species. It has persisted throughout time to help protect and develop infants.

If your main disagreement with donor milk is personal comfortability, that's totally okay! Not everyone is comfortable with the same things, which is why some women opt for donor milk instead of formula feeding. But to knock how other people choose to do things because your personal beliefs don't align with theirs is arrogant. The need to remove these taboos so women can feel comfortable provding for their children in the best way they can is absolutely imperative. Women should not be made to fear one type of feeding over another just because of modern day taboos. If you would like to look into donor milk there are plenty of ways to start! You can look into Human Milk 4 Human Babies, Eats on Feets, or talking to a local milk bank. Most women who donate straight to you are completely comfortable with telling you exactly what their diet and lifestyle are like, and will disclose any medications, or problems to you. Because they understand that while donor milk is a great resource, sometimes they may not be the best fit for your baby and they want you to have the full disclosure so you can decide whether or not to use their milk for your child. These women donate milk to help others, usually for free, because they realize the benefits of breastmilk are so amazing that it is a privilege to be able to help other mothers who cannot (for whatever reason) provide breastmilk to their own children, to give them the milk that they are biologically designed to drink.

Now please don't read this as an attack on cow's milk, or those who choose to use a variation of it to feed their child. It is absolutely not. It is to show you why people who opt not to use it may choose to do so. The same way you view another humans milk is how some view cows milk.

It's all about perspective. Don't knock it just because it's not for you.

In the (kind of) words of Stephen F Roberts: "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible milk choices, you will understand why I dismiss yours." 

Formula feed babies. Breastmilk feeds babies. Goats milk feed babies. Donor milk feeds babies.