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Step 1
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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Step 2
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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Step 3
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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Step 4
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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Step 5
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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Step 6
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.
Comments
mamamilk11 said
on 7/9/2009 I am a mother of two healthy children. I am 30, married and have a PhD. I take vitamins and eat well. I am currently nursing my youngest and have an oversupply of milk. Both of my children have always been in the 90th percentile for height and weight and are extremely healthy, rarely getting sick. I would love to sell milk to a fmaily that would use it for their child. I am happy to sell it on a one-time basis or as an ongoing relationship. Please email me at mama.milk11@gmail.com if interested.
mommysmilk said
on 7/6/2009 I am a mother of one and have too much milk. Please e-mail me at mommysmilk@hotmail.com for mroe information. I am looking for $2 an ounce. I am in MN
highwaygypsy said
on 6/13/2009 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
mamamiamd said
on 6/6/2009 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 ...
milknc said
on 6/4/2009 I have a deep freezer full of breast milk I would like to sell. We just discovered that my baby has a milk alergy and can not use it. I can provide medical screening records. Local pick up only - Charlotte NC area. If you would like to take all the milk you can purchase the freezer as well for easy transport and storage. Please contact breastmilk4salenc@yahoo.com Thank you