I think it important for everyone to know what the CDC says about breastmilk
and universal precautions. see:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidad/hip/blood/universa.htm

"Although universal precautions do not apply to human breast milk, gloves may
be worn by health care workers in situations where exposures to breast milk
might be frequent, e.g., in breast milk banking. "

Before we get out the "combat gear" to work with mothers, we need to know it
isn't necessary.  Manual expression of breastmilk does not have to be an
occupational hazard.  I have taught manual expression to mothers since the
early 90's and never gotten squirted in the eye.  But I never teach this
technique facing the mother.  I am either behind the mother or beside the
mother.  My hands are over her hands teaching her the technique.   I believe
that my hands over the mother's hands gives the mother some control over the
process which is important.

I think the commercial distribution of human milk is a terrible idea because
it is already out of the hands of individual women and into the powerful
hands of the infant formula industry. (the patents are the warning bells)
Pastuerization of breastmilk does not necessarily render it safe--it kills
alot of the good ingredients (most of the lactoferrin) in the milk.  It also
means that someone has to find a clean container for it and has to have the
ability to safely store it.  In my opinion the safest aspect of human milk is
not the product but the process!  Breastfeeding, a mother nursing a baby, is
more protective because it is a dynamic relationship that creates a changing,
protective substance.  Breastmilk reacts to that baby's environment.  Nothing
in the world that man can make can out perform that amazing feat.  I call it
a primed and working immune system.   I respectfully offer the opinion that
the transmission of hiv through breastmilk is not a proven fact.  There is a
huge industry being built on the basis that human milk inactivates the hiv
virus--the human lactoferrin industry.  In my mind, we breastfeeding
advocates need to be asking serious questions about the whys of this to not
only our governments but to the medical and research communities.  Valerie W.
McClain, IBCLC

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