Due to a lack of safety and sanitary controls, however, this black-market milk may be contaminated with bacteria or could be fraudulently mixed with cow’s milk.
Fortunately, there are legit human milk banks that are subject to strict safety standards. The Human Milk Bank Association of North America (HMBANA), for example, provides FDA and CDC designed guidelines to its member milk banks.
According to safe storage standards, Mom's can save their expressed milk for up to six months in a freezer. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life.
Breast milk contains all the major macronutrients such as fat, carbs, and protein as well as important vitamins and minerals. Breast milk also contains antibodies from the mother that can provide newborns immunity protections. Babies who are breastfed are at 73% reduced chance of SIDS, show increased intelligence, contract fewer middle ear infections, colds/flu, etc.
Top health agencies like WHO, NIH, the American Academy of Pediatric Physicians, etc. are huge supporters of breastfeeding.
The production of breast milk is initiated by the hormones prolactin and oxytocin. According to the Medical Confessions podcast, men can also produce breast milk, called witches’ milk, that is surprisingly similar to a woman’s breast milk if given the proper milk-producing hormones.
There is both an art and a science to breast milk production. Some environmental and biological agents can help increase breast milk production. One of the hosts mentions Fenugreek as being particularly helpful, though she noticeably gave off the aroma of maple syrup. Mom’s must also be aware that what they ingest and what is in their system can be passed to their child.
Midwife rang today: mum who survived breast cancer is due next week.🤰Within 1 h we had plan for donor milk! #helpingothers @milk_foundation pic.twitter.com/t9wsJdnH0f
— Hearts Milk Bank (@heartsmilkbank) August 3, 2018
