German doctors warn against Internet breastmilk buying
Published: 10/18/2012 10:23 AM
Last Modified: 10/18/2012 10:23 AM
I never considered buying breastmilk on the Internet, even as my baby demanded more and more milk as she grew. (Drawn by Althea Peterson)
The same applies to babies, apparently!
France24.com: German doctors warn against Internet trade in breast milk
I never considered doing this myself, the German doctors' reasons among them: You don't know what the provider has been drinking or eating, what medications or illnesses they have, etc.
Plus... Internet breastmilk? Even if the provider isn't a complete stranger, it just doesn't sound right, does it?
As I wind down my own breastfeeding experience (strep throat seemed to put a damper on things a few weeks ago), here's some of my own tips to pass along:
1- Freeze and store early and often. You never know when your baby's appetite will grow (or when you will be sick or out of town) so be prepared!
2- Label bottles and bags with pump dates. This way, it's easy to know how long you can keep the milk. A week for refrigerated, 3-6 months for frozen is standard, I think.
3- Don't dump that spare ounce! You will regret it when you are struggling to keep up with your growing baby. Save everything you don't use (unless it's "expired").
--Althea Peterson
Written by
Althea Peterson
Staff Writer
