According to Wikipedia:

"The United States dairy herd produced 83.9 billion kg (185 billion lbs) of milk in 2007, up from 52.6 billion kg (116 billion lbs) in 1950.,[2][3] Yet there are more than 9 million cows on U.S. dairy farms—about 13 million fewer than there were in 1950.[3]"

 

1. I hope we never need that much human milk!  Most mothers will be providing their own, and only a small percentage of infants ever need someone else’s milk.

2. Testing of dairy cow’s milk is also done on HUGE volumes, not so in human milk banks

3. Cows receive a series of antibiotics which we would rather babies were not normally and regularly receiving with their food

4. According to the great Australian ILCA Conference 10 years ago – in many places, cows become ill after being “required” to produce a lot more milk than they were naturally designed to  provide – causing illnesses, seizures and death due to lack of trace minerals and vitamins…

 

I highly recommend a visit to a dairy and food processing (formula, dry milk) plant and a human milk bank to thoroughly understand the difference and the importance of those fantastic people who run the milk banks! 

 

…and yes, donations would be happily accepted – of milk AND money to help keep the costs down!  

 

Remember that whenever blood banks start requesting extra donations (holidays, Summer) your local milk bank could also use some reminders/marketing/education  among the moms you know who are breastfeeding.

 

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC

…and no, I do not work for nor would I benefit from any donation elicited due to this request!


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