I am so tired about hearing that breastmilk is free. I think it takes the
value out of something so precious.
When my partner and I put together a cost analysis of formula feeding for a
year to include in our new parent information, I had her calculate the cost
of buying breastmilk for a year. Based on 2.50 per ounce- I came up with that
figure from some old milk bank info that quoted between $2 and $4 per ounce-
using the same number of ounces as we did for our formula analysis- Mother's
milk would cost $29,000+ for one year!!!!
Does that make a measly $1500 for fomula look like pennies or what!!!
Our mothers need to know what they are worth- I can not believe the way
husbands pick up on these numbers. I think it makes many think twice about
the value of formula (after all it's only worth 1/20 of the cost of an
equivalent amount of breastmilk)  and encouraging moms to continue (she's
worth  a 30,000 salary just by mothering her baby). I also see women
reconsider pump equipment and fitting pumping time in after going back to
work.
When you consider the cost of a rental for a year in relation to the $29000
of milk you can provide- who can make any other choice?
I hate the material aspect of this whole discusion but for our culture -money
talks!!
                                                 Debby Kearney IBCLC
                                                 in warm sunny Fl
ps. if there are some more current real milk bank numbers out there let me
know!!