typing "out-loud" Random thoughts- because the idea that women are _giving away_ their milk to a company with an unethical past and strong ties to ABM manufacturing brings up very strong negative feelings.  In addition, I think it is possible for: Prolacta to PAY for breastmilk, as they should be doing, and that women are able to decide for themselves what is in their families best interests for their professional skills.



 If you are going to charge a Nicu Mom 10X what it costs to make the product; then you better have paid a pretty penny for that liquid gold.  Women are not cows- they deserve to have their skills, time and body fluids paid for.   One can rent out a womb, sell eggs, sell sperm.  One can also donate them to a family member or a friend.  Really the choice is up to the mother.

    As for the idea that women would sell breastmilk for commercial gain at the expense of the health of her baby.  That could happen.       And in a way-  women already sell their time and effort in detriment to their babies health.  Every time a woman goes back to work and decides she is unable to pump enough milk for her child and switches to ABM she is putting money (which is going to be traded for food, shelter, clothing) over the health of her baby.    Some women chose this- because they get more satisfaction from being at work than being at home taking care of a baby.  Some women HAVE to do this because it is the only way to pay bills.  I wonder if women would be eager to sell milk in exchange for 6 months of paid maternity leave.  Just think of all those NICU moms with over supply- if they could SELL all that milk in the freezer to pay for medical bills from months of hospital stays, instead of dumping it in the trash.

As for the idea that women could unknowingly harm her baby by selling her milk; I think the current practice of having the pediatrician state that her baby is in good health and mom had a surplus of milk would be sufficient.  


And as an aside- just thinking out loud again-

Hmmm, human milk fortifier is only available in liquid form.  I wonder if the protection against NEC will go away when it is a powdered (and therefor not a sterile product- much like the difference between ready to feed and powdered ABM).
  

Warmly,

Charity
(who is thinking of all the plasma her college boyfriend _sold_ for profit at Penn State so he could pay for his text books).

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