Black Market Breast Milk?

It's back in the news again. The buying and selling of breast milk has been a hot topic for years. Now with the ease of use of social networking sites and places like Craigslist, it has become much easier to find the precious commodity.  While the tradition of wet nurses dates back centuries, there's apparently been a four-fold increase in demand for human milk, fueled by adoptions and by the use of breast milk in the treatment protocols for certain infant diseases.  Milk banks charge $3/oz. for thoroughly tested, pasteurized breast milk, and usually require a prescription. For folks without the extra $2,400/month to spend on breast milk, pediatricians, nursing support groups, and lactation consultants sometimes act as go-betweens for parents and donors. Now you can buy on line on Craigslist locally or E Bay nationally or find a source through websites such as Only The Breast.  This of course may save you money, but at what cost.

The big risk, of course, is disease; many infections, including Staph and HIV, can be transmitted to a baby through breast milk.  Another risk is knowing the source of your breast milk, their diet and habits may put our child at risk.  The Debate will continue.