Betsy wrote:
"What they found out really bothered me....first of all, we could not find ANY milk banks near us in Michigan.
 Secondly, they did find a bank somewhere that wanted $2.50/ounce for the milk (!!!)"

Betsy,
Five years ago a friend of mine adopted a baby at one week. She planned to breastfeed, but had never given birth or pumped ahead of time, so she had nbo idea how this would go. I suggested she purchase banked milk for a least his first month, so as to give his gut a good start. After the expense of the adoption, she could only afford enough for one week! Fortunately, it got her to thinking about donor milk and she managed to feed her baby at least half breastmilk for his first six months (using a tube at her breast), having been supplied breastmilk by two of her midifery clients (she is still nursing him). I think this is one area we have neglected to think about in terms of insurance reimbursement and it needs our attention.
    We did, BTW, get Medicaid to reimburse for banked milk for some babies who tested HIV+.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, Ct, USA

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