Mothers that are unable to breast feed can obtain donor breast milk via the internet. There are several milk banks accessible through the internet, which can deliver breast milk overnight directly to your home. There is even an organization, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, that provides information and resources about the business of buying human milk. But does donor human milk provide the same nutritional benefits as breast milk. Does the medical literature and scientific research support this assertion?
Pasteurization Damages Human Milk
There is actually a lot of literature on the benefits of human milk. There is also literature on the benefits of donated breast milk. Several studies have showed that the process of pasteurization does affect the nutritional and immunological components of human milk. This was proved by N.E. Wight in an article for the Journal of Perinatology in 2001 and Y. Andersson in Acta Paediatrica in 2007. When donor human milk is delivered to the milk bank it is frozen by the donor. The human milk bank has to thaw the milk. The milk is pasteurized and refrozen prior to being delivered to the recipient overnight. The procedure of thawing and refreezing the milk destroys the cellular activity of certain vitamins. The pasteurization also damages the lipases and decreases IgA activity, according to R.A. Lawrence in Acta Paediatrica Supplement in 1999.
Though the process of pasteurizing milk does impair many of the most beneficial components of human milk, is it better than formula? C.A. Boyd, in a paper for the Archives of Diseases in Child and Fetal Neonatology in 2007, admitted that a systemic review and meta-analysis provided limited evidence that donor milk lowered the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. The review also showed a lower rate of growth, though, in the early postnatal period for those preterm infants taking donor human milk compared to those taking formula. In 2005, R. Schanler showed in a paper for Pediatrics that preterm formula was better than donor milk in extremely premature infants. The greatest benefit of donor human milk in the literature seems to be in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. The use of donor milk is being researched in infants with other medical conditions, but presently seems to be most beneficial for those babies with gastrointestinal disorders.
Should Formula be Dumped for Donor Human Milk
There is little worry that manufactured formulas will soon be replaced by donor human milk. Currently, a prescription from a medical professional is necessary to obtain donor breast milk. Also, the cost is rather prohibitive at about $3/oz. Hospitals are presently the biggest consumers of donor human milk. The benefits of donor human milk for preterm infants with gastrointestinal disease has been established. Whether donor human milk will become more mainstream still waits to be seen. The research emphasis is on looking for other medical conditions that may benefit from the use of donor human milk. Although the immunological components of human milk are damaged during the pasteurization process, there are still benefits from donor human milk. Research into uses for kidney disorders and genetic disorders is currently being done.
Mothers are encouraged to breast feed if at all possible, for at least the first 6 months of an infants life. But the public should not take this as an undisputed endorsement of donor human milk banks. Buying donor human milk online can be risky. There are for profit and non-profit human milk banks. Do not contract to purchase donor human milk online unless the human milk bank is regulated. Inquire into their screening procedures, and consult with your medical professional before proceeding. Breast milk isstill the best source of nutrition for infants.
Finding a Human Milk Donor
Some woman buy donor breast milk without using donor milk banks. The most obvious benefit of an online milk banking system is regulation. It can be precarious to get donor breast milk without doing some screening. Donor human milk is a business which requires regulation because breast milk can carry diseases. There are certain medical conditions that prohibit a woman from breast feeding, for example HIV. Universal screening of all potential human milk donors reduces the likelihood of a contaminated product being delivered to an infant. There are medicationsthat cannot be consumed by a nursing mother. A questionnaire about medical status will eliminate donors taking medications that can be detrimental to babies. Currently, however, there is no governmental regulation of the donor human milk industry. The question still remains, though, is breast milk obtained online as good as getting human milk straight from the breast. Donor milk has its benefits, but currently the research does not support universal usage.
