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Local doctor donates 120 pounds of breast milk to human milk bank Says she bypassed selling on-line because the industry is "unsafe" Sale of human breast milk is legal, but unregulated in Mid South
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
(Memphis 11/24/2009) It's the story that has everyone talking, mothers selling their breast milk on-line.
WREG On Your Side Investigators found hundreds of moms advertising their milk for sale, including women right here in the Mid South.
But a Memphis doctor is speaking out, urging mothers to go in a different direction by donating their milk to non-profit human milk banks.
For the last six years, LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, has been using donor milk.
Unlike what's on the internet, experts say donor milk is carefully screened, and the mother's diet closely monitored.
And, unlike the ads on the internet, donors don't see a dime.
As the mother of a nursing seven month old, Celeste Hecox knows the possibilities out there.
"I probably thought about it," admitted the 29 year old.
She's talking about the hundreds of mothers, nationwide, offering their breast milk on-line to others for a price.
Ads show prices anywhere from a $1 to $5 an ounce.
A mother of three, Amy Janson started advertising her breast milk last summer.
"I figured it's a lot of work, making milk," Janson explained when asked why she put a price on her breast milk. "It's tiring, the effort into pumping, pumps are expensive."
But as a pediatrician, Hecox says, while selling milk may be lucrative, it's not for her.
"It would be encouraging an industry i think is unsafe and i don't agree with," said Hecox.
She says she sees the benefits of breast-feeding daily, both as a mother, and doctor.
Hecox was heartbroken after having to toss gallons of stored milk she pumped after her son was born.
So when her daughter was born seven months ago, Hecox made plans to donate.
"I've donated 120 pounds of breast milk," said Hecox.
The donor sends her excess to the non-profit human milk bank in Texas that supplies LeBonheur's donor milk program.
"Formula, sometimes, may have lactose or other components they may or may not be able to tolerate right away," explained Ruth Munday, a lactation consultant when asked about the benefits of giving donor milk to newborns in the hospital.
As a doctor, Hecox worries what anyone buying milk on-line is really getting.
While its sale is legal in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, the sale of breast milk is not regulated.
"People selling goat's milk or cows milk as breast milk or the mothers you're buying from haven't been tested," said Hecox highlighting the dangers of buying human milk from a stranger. "You don't know what kind of infectious diseases they have, some of which can be passed through breast milk."
So while friends and family may continue to ask Hecox why she bypassing the chance to bring in extra bucks with her breast milk, she insists she'll keep donating.
"It's the best medicine and the only medicine a lot of times moms can give," she explained. "And it's lifesaving."
Despite the benefits, don't expect the doctor to recommend blind buying on-line from a stranger.
"My conscience wouldn't let me," said Hecox, "because it's something I would never do for my own child because the risk outweighs the benefit."
Local doctor donates 120 pounds of breast milk to human milk bank Says she bypassed selling on-line because the industry is "unsafe" Sale of human breast milk is legal, but unregulated in Mid South
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
(Memphis 11/24/2009) It's the story that has everyone talking, mothers selling their breast milk on-line.
WREG On Your Side Investigators found hundreds of moms advertising their milk for sale, including women right here in the Mid South.
But a Memphis doctor is speaking out, urging mothers to go in a different direction by donating their milk to non-profit human milk banks.
For the last six years, LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, has been using donor milk.
Unlike what's on the internet, experts say donor milk is carefully screened, and the mother's diet closely monitored.
And, unlike the ads on the internet, donors don't see a dime.
As the mother of a nursing seven month old, Celeste Hecox knows the possibilities out there.
"I probably thought about it," admitted the 29 year old.
She's talking about the hundreds of mothers, nationwide, offering their breast milk on-line to others for a price.
Ads show prices anywhere from a $1 to $5 an ounce.
A mother of three, Amy Janson started advertising her breast milk last summer.
"I figured it's a lot of work, making milk," Janson explained when asked why she put a price on her breast milk. "It's tiring, the effort into pumping, pumps are expensive."
But as a pediatrician, Hecox says, while selling milk may be lucrative, it's not for her.
"It would be encouraging an industry i think is unsafe and i don't agree with," said Hecox.
She says she sees the benefits of breast-feeding daily, both as a mother, and doctor.
Hecox was heartbroken after having to toss gallons of stored milk she pumped after her son was born.
So when her daughter was born seven months ago, Hecox made plans to donate.
"I've donated 120 pounds of breast milk," said Hecox.
The donor sends her excess to the non-profit human milk bank in Texas that supplies LeBonheur's donor milk program.
"Formula, sometimes, may have lactose or other components they may or may not be able to tolerate right away," explained Ruth Munday, a lactation consultant when asked about the benefits of giving donor milk to newborns in the hospital.
As a doctor, Hecox worries what anyone buying milk on-line is really getting.
While its sale is legal in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, the sale of breast milk is not regulated.
"People selling goat's milk or cows milk as breast milk or the mothers you're buying from haven't been tested," said Hecox highlighting the dangers of buying human milk from a stranger. "You don't know what kind of infectious diseases they have, some of which can be passed through breast milk."
So while friends and family may continue to ask Hecox why she bypassing the chance to bring in extra bucks with her breast milk, she insists she'll keep donating.
"It's the best medicine and the only medicine a lot of times moms can give," she explained. "And it's lifesaving."
Despite the benefits, don't expect the doctor to recommend blind buying on-line from a stranger.
"My conscience wouldn't let me," said Hecox, "because it's something I would never do for my own child because the risk outweighs the benefit."
