Thank you for sharing the link to the Dec 2014 AAP newsletter commentary,
written by a member of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding, with its rather
blanket commandment (another one of those blanket commandments ....)
against informal milk sharing.

Sigh.

This writer continues the obfuscation between factors (and risks) inherent
in *informal* milk sharing between families who get to know a little
something about one another, and *anonymous sales* of milk. The closing
lines reflect little appreciation for the realities of how the
no-debate-excellent donor milk banks (that are members of the Human Milk
Banking Association of North America (HMBANA)) function, and the very sick
populations of babies and cancer patients they serve.

As to the AAP letter, which cites the Keim study about anonymous Internet
*sales*, I think this commentary from Alison Stuebe on the Academy of
Breastfeeding Medicine blog is one of the best analyses on that research:
https://bfmed.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/online-milk-sales-beyond-buyer-beware/

And this newer blog piece discusses the comparison of *informal sharing
between families* and *anonymous Internet sales*:
http://amywest.co/2014/11/24/study-shows-risk-in-buying-breastmilk-online/

Which brings me back to the lovely Position Paper from the AAFP.

It not only supports the IBCLC role in clinical lactation care (see their
Key Recommendation 5, and Appendix 1 at 4.5.; stuff you know I'm gonna
love) ... it asks that informed decision-making occur, after an analysis of
individual risks and benefits. Shockingly obvious, and yet we need Position
Papers to remind the healthcare provider community at large about this
important principle.

Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome