How to Buy Breastmilk
By now, most new parents know that breastmilk is better for babies than formula. But sometimes, due to adoption, surrogacy or medical issues with babies and mothers, it's impossible to produce breastmilk. However, you can still get breastmilk for your baby by purchasing it.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Talk to your pediatrician. You need a prescription to purchase breastmilk before you contact a milk bank. Most pediatricians are strong breastfeeding proponents and may have a breastmilk bank they recommend or have worked with in the past.
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Contact one of the eleven human milk banks in North America (United States and Canada). These banks accept donated breastmilk from extremely carefully screened lactating mothers. The breastmilk is also pasteurized and tested for bacteria before selling. Human milk banks follow the guidelines for accepting and selling breastmilk from The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBA).
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Expect to pay about two to three dollars an ounce for breastmilk, though your insurance company may pick up a portion or all of that cost. While the cost may seem expensive, the cost pays for only a portion of the screening costs. Milk banks stay open due to donations and local fundraising groups. Speak to your insurance company to see if they will pay for the breastmilk.
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Locate a wet nurse. Used primarily in the past, a wet nurse is a lactating woman who directly breastfeeds babies or pumps her milk for a specific baby. Wet nurses are difficult to find, and must be pre-screened. La Leche League has a list of wet nurses in your area, or your pediatrician may know of one.
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Purchase breastmilk from a pre-screened mother, rather than a stranger, if you choose not to use a human milk bank. Breastmilk can carry a large variety of diseases including HIV and hepatitis that can be passed to your baby.
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Speak to La Leche League if you're still uncertain of how to proceed. La Leche League may be able to refer you to a place to buy breastmilk.
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Comments
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sarahschwindt
Feb 21, 2010
I am a mother and nurse, 25 year old and very healthy! Have been pumping extra milk and am willing to ship milk! sarah -
clovely
Aug 21, 2009
hi i am a 18 year old mom with a 4 month old baby who needs to gain weight so has been put on formula. i have a lrge milk supply. i am an "over producer" i have never done drugs or drank and i eat healthy. i have no medical problems, i live canada for people that live neer here.
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bck1978
Aug 13, 2009
I am 30 and am a new Mom. I was so paranoid about not having enough breast milk, I started pumping after nursing and freezing the extra milk and storing it in my sub-zero deep freezer. I have quite a bit and would be willing to sell it for $1.75 per ounce. I have no medical conditions, and have taken NO medicine since I started breastfeeding -- that's right -- NONE! I also try and use as many organic products as possible, to avoid chemicals in my breast milk. I eat about 50% organic foods and know a lot about nutrition. I don't believe in breat milk banks, as they pasteurize the milk and that kills all the bad bacteria, but also the good stuff. This doesn't make sense to me! (That's why I drink Raw Milk, and have NEVER had a problem.) I would sell the milk as a large lot (frozen) and would consider selling to anyone within 3 hours of Tucson, Arizona. Please e-mail me at BethParks1978...
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highwaygypsy
Jun 13, 2009
please help my daughter is drying up and needs to feed her 6 week old baby she does not want to give formula she lives in northern illinois please call me at 904-349-2560
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mamamiamd
Jun 06, 2009
I have extra breastmilk to sell to families wishing to provide natural food for a baby. I am a thirty two year old married mother of two healthy girls. I am a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and have a master's degree (working on a PhD). As of the 15th of June, I will be staying at home full time to care for my children. My diet is very healthy and I do not indulge in junk food/soda except for the occasional ice cream cone. We grow much of our food here or buy from the local Amish farmer's market. If necessary, I am willing to adopt other, more stringent, nutritional guidelines if the child has specific needs. I also do not take any medications. Because of my previous line of work (interacting in close proximity with over a thousand people a day) I have a strong immune system and almost never get sick. I use sterilized equipment and will freeze all breastmilk in ...
