Get The Four Pillars Of Safe Breast Milk Sharing

Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics discourage informal milk sharing due to potential risks when using donor milk that has not been adequately screened and properly stored.

If you choose to breastfeed, it's recommended that babies should consume only breast milk for around the first 6 months of their lives. After this, it is recommended that they continue to be breastfed for 2 years and beyond, alongside eating other foods.

The AAP does not encourage using informally shared breast milk, citing the risks of spreading disease. It can also expose an infant to medications, alcohol, drugs, or other contaminants.

Concerns about potential exposure to hepatitis B and C viruses. Hepatitis B and C cannot be spread from a woman to a child through breastfeeding or close contact unless there is exposure to blood. It is very unlikely that a child would be at risk for hepatitis B or C by receiving another mother's breast milk.

The AAP does not encourage using informally shared breast milk, citing the risks of spreading disease. It can also expose an infant to medications, alcohol, drugs, or other contaminants.

What are the risks associated with milk sharing? Disease transmission. Human milk can be a source of infection such as bacteria, or viruses like HIV, HTLV I/II, and CMV. ... Transfer of drugs or medications. Human milk can be a vehicle for transferring drugs from donor to child. ... Contamination.

7 Since your breast milk is produced by supply and demand, you don't need to worry too much that your toddler will "steal" the milk your baby needs. Still, some parents like to nurse their newborn first and then allow their toddler to nurse, especially in the early weeks.

Human Milk Composition. Breast milk is the best food for the newborn. Human milk consists of 87% water, 1% protein, 4% lipid, and 7% carbohydrate (including 1 to 2.4% oligosaccharides) (Figure 1).