Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's 2017 Policy Statement on Informal Milk Sharing

Breast milk confers multiple health benefits to infants. Wet nursing (directly breastfeeding a nonbiological child) has been practiced throughout history, and pasteurized donor human milk banks increasingly support hospitalized infants. Of late, informal milk sharing is becoming increasingly common as mothers' desire to feed their babies breast milk grows.

Community-based breast milk sharing can benefit infants and families, but also carries potential risks. Understanding that individual circumstances may vary widely, the responsibilities of donor milk exchange remain with the donor and the parent(s) of the recipient infant who must consider the possible health and safety risks for their baby from exposure to infectious diseases or chemical contaminants. Informed choice, medical screening of the donor, safe milk handling, and home pasteurization are four components that have been suggested to maximize the safety of community-based breast milk sharing.

Internet-based breast milk sharing, and especially the buying and selling of milk, should be strongly discouraged. Donors cannot be adequately screened and multiple studies have shown a high risk of milk contamination.

The United States Food and Drug Administration, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and the European Milk Bank Association have all discouraged informal milk sharing or recommended that a healthcare professional be consulted before doing so. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is in agreement with these organizations and encourages all providers to be educated so they may be well positioned to help mothers and families make informed choices about infant nutrition. As such, breastfeeding medicine specialists from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine are currently writing a Position Paper with more detailed guidance to providers for their patients on the subject of informal milk sharing.