Nikki posed an interesting question about the theory behind payment (or not)
for breastmilk 

 

A couple of ideas come to my mind. 

 

First it's patronizing to think that women need to be protected from
themselves and from decisions they might make on behalf of themselves and
their families. Is there anyone out there who truly thinks that making
people dependent on someone else's idea of what is their best interest is a
good idea? The vicious cycle of welfare and the culture of entitlement in
the US would be the obvious example. 

 

Is there any evidence that a woman providing breastmilk to two babies gives
poorer quality milk? Does someone with a singleton who pumps enough milk for
a second baby in anyway damage her own child? Mothers of twins will be all
ears to hear this loop of logic. 

 

I suspect that one of the reasons that women don't value breastfeeding is
simply because it is "free". Formula must be better because it's expensive
and even in charity programs is carefully rationed. You don't, for example,
get all the formula your baby needs for the first year in the WIC program.
The poor mom who accepts this "generosity" ends up paying out of pocket
using her limited resources after the child weighs about 10 pounds. Do women
who know that banked breastmilk is several dollars an ounce value breastmilk
over formula more? Modern culture places value on expensive things. I would
argue that not allowing women to be compensated fairly for their breastmilk
actually supports a formula culture. 

 

Men routinely sell their sperm to sperm banks where infertile couples
happily use it without batting an eye. Why should a product unique to
women's bodies be treated so very differently? Breastmilk is more difficult
to provide and certainly takes greater commitment. Infertile folks often
choose an individual sperm or ovum donor based on individual
characteristics. College newspaper ads offer large sums ($10k) for egg
"donation". Is it such an outrageous leap to wonder why breastmilk isn't
similarly recruited? 

 

Susan Small RN BSN

 

 

Nikki wrote:  One argument I've heard is that poor women might be tempted to
sell their milk instead of giving it to their own babies.  Another is that
women might be exploited somehow, although I haven't exactly thought that
theory through.

 

 


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