I would be interested in hearing Sarah Vaughan's explanation for her post:

"Currently, if I were to have a baby whom I could not fully supply with my 
own milk, thus leaving me with a choice between human milk from an informal
 milk sharing network and formula milk, I would choose formula.  That is not,
 as some might wish to assume, due to ignorance: it is a decision into which
 I have put careful thought and research (and one which I am happy to explain
 if anyone is curious)".  

We have had a milk bank at Children and Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada for 
as long as I can remember.  If needed, women can get free formula or free donor milk 
while in hospital and can purchase donor milk when they are in the community 
(subject to availability). The cost to purchase (donor) is to cover the milk bank screening
and handling costs.

Not infrequently, when I suggest a baby needs a supplement, (until we can increase
 a milk supply), women say, "Oh! No I wouldn't want to use another mother's milk". 
When I ask, where they think formula comes from, they do not know.  When I 
explain it comes from a cow, I can remember, in my whole, (very long) career, (in 
Vancouver), only 1 person who still wanted to use formula. Also I remember many 
recalls of formula but I have never heard of any recalls of donor milk.

My experience in the Middle East though, was that (it is believed) women who
breastfeed another women's baby becomes that baby's "milk mother" and her
child and the child she breastfed can never marry.  I caused quite a stir when
I suggested a milk bank because donor milk is pooled and the record keeping
 would (likely) be prohibitive. 

Renee (in Vancouver)

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