What are the risks of sharing breast milk?

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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.

Is it safe to give my baby another woman’s breast milk?

“While moms who offer their milk to another mama have good intentions, it is possible to pass diseases through breast milk.” After all, even though it might have more nutrients, the breast milk won’t be pasteurized, so you could be putting your baby at risk for contracting bacteria, diseases, or viruses.

Can a baby get sick from someone else’s breast milk?

In a survey on 650 mothers from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that more than 50 percent were not concerned about the safety of sharing breast milk. But breast milk can expose infants to disease or drugs or other substances ingested by the donor.

What are considerations for safe storage of expressed milk?

Use breast milk storage bags or clean, food-grade containers to store expressed breast milk….Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored:

At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours.
In the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.

Is donor milk at hospital safe?

Pasteurized donor milk is safe for all babies who can tolerate human milk, even with the increased risk of contamination due to hospital practices. It’s of no reassurance to the parents who have lost their lives.

How is donor breast milk screened?

Potential milk donors provide complete medical and lifestyle histories, and undergo blood tests for HIV, HTLV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C, similar to the screening process used at blood banks. Donated milk is then tested for bacteria and nutritional composition, and pasteurized to kill any bacteria and viruses.

Is it safe to use someone else’s breast pump?

Breast pumps that are reused by different mothers can carry infectious particles, which can make you or your baby sick. Buying a used breast pump or sharing a breast pump may be a violation of the manufacturer’s warranty and you may not be able to get help from the manufacturer if you have a problem with the pump.

Can I use someone else’s breast pump?

With the exception of multiple user pumps, the FDA considers breast pumps to be single-user devices. That means that a breast pump should only be used by one woman because there is no way to guarantee the pump can be cleaned and disinfected between uses by different women.

Can Covid be transmitted through breast milk?

Current evidence suggests that breast milk is not likely to spread the virus to babies. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.

What can I do with leftover colostrum?

Once you’ve collected colostrum, it’s ready for consumption. You can administer it via a syringe or small bottle (remember, quantities will be relatively low). You can also feed drops of it to your baby on a clean finger. Every bit is packed with nutrients to help your baby’s development.

What can I do with breast milk instead of dumping?

Here are a few ways you can use breast milk that your baby can’t/won’t drink:

Milk baths. Can help with dry skin, cradle cap, rashes, eczema, the itch of bug bites, or just for general skin conditioning.
Breast milk lotion.
Syringes.
Dilution.
Breast milk soap.