The thread regarding formula being available only by prescription got me thinking. Pardon my rambling as this may not even make sense. If that were the case and donor milk was the "option" where would all this donor milk come from?
I'm a full time work out of the house mommy bfing my 3rd child. (#1 bf until 10 months when I moved her to formula because it was impossible to maintain a supply with the job I was at which required me to travel overnight 3 out of 5 days a week.......that i made it to 10 months was a miracle. #2 bf until 22 months when my milk must have changed late in my pregancy w/#3. #3 is 7 months old and will wean when he's ready. Thankfully, I no longer travel for a living.
Having had to pump for my kids while I work I can tell you that it is a huge challenge for me to make sure I'm doing all the right things to keep a healthy supply. I pumped from day 1 to build a monster stash and pump 4 times a day at the office. That being said, I don't have a single spare ounce to "donate." I hoard breast milk because I know, eventually, my child will need it.
I find it amazing and truly a wonderful gift that so many women are able to donate milk. So incredibly generous.
If, however, formula was not easily available, the supply of "donor" milk would not come close to meeting the needs of babies who's mommas just can't get the ounces together as easily (and it isn't easy) as I am.
Maybe I'm a cynic but I keep invisioning women getting jobs as "milk mommies" not unlike....and pardon the vision but it's what I see when I think about it........a dairy farm. Even if every woman physically able to bf did bf so many things are tough to overcome when mom is separated from baby by work or other obstacles. (for the record I love my career and after a small trial stint of staying at home w/the kids I quickly learned that everyone in my family was happier if momma is working, so yes I do choose to work and am comfortable with that choice)
So, my question is: Do you think the supply of human milk would meet the demand of the babies who need it?
I'm a full time work out of the house mommy bfing my 3rd child. (#1 bf until 10 months when I moved her to formula because it was impossible to maintain a supply with the job I was at which required me to travel overnight 3 out of 5 days a week.......that i made it to 10 months was a miracle. #2 bf until 22 months when my milk must have changed late in my pregancy w/#3. #3 is 7 months old and will wean when he's ready. Thankfully, I no longer travel for a living.
Having had to pump for my kids while I work I can tell you that it is a huge challenge for me to make sure I'm doing all the right things to keep a healthy supply. I pumped from day 1 to build a monster stash and pump 4 times a day at the office. That being said, I don't have a single spare ounce to "donate." I hoard breast milk because I know, eventually, my child will need it.
I find it amazing and truly a wonderful gift that so many women are able to donate milk. So incredibly generous.
If, however, formula was not easily available, the supply of "donor" milk would not come close to meeting the needs of babies who's mommas just can't get the ounces together as easily (and it isn't easy) as I am.
Maybe I'm a cynic but I keep invisioning women getting jobs as "milk mommies" not unlike....and pardon the vision but it's what I see when I think about it........a dairy farm. Even if every woman physically able to bf did bf so many things are tough to overcome when mom is separated from baby by work or other obstacles. (for the record I love my career and after a small trial stint of staying at home w/the kids I quickly learned that everyone in my family was happier if momma is working, so yes I do choose to work and am comfortable with that choice)
So, my question is: Do you think the supply of human milk would meet the demand of the babies who need it?
: There would have to be a much larger support network and better lactation eduction to keep people from THINKING they can't nurse or don't have enough milk after getting bad advice/improper support.
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