Comments on Blacktating: Breastmilk Stunts

I think it'll would be very educational. More ...

2011-11-20T01:54:37.707-05:00

I think it'll would be very educational. More proof that breast milk doesn't stop being nourishing once a child reaches whatever age(I know that EVERY person you ask will probably give a different age). As for donating to a milk bank, they did say that they tried and most won't take it because it's too old, and those that would take it are for profit banks(which is just rediculous, if someone donates breast milk for needy infants the company shouldn't turn around and SELL it for profit. It's not ethical). Besides that it is HER milk and she's free to do with it what she wants and shouldn't be judged for it.

When I just read about local hospitals not getting...

2011-10-11T11:10:11.699-04:00

When I just read about local hospitals not getting enough milk donated for their premies that really need it, this just seems like a huge waste to me.

I don't think breastmilk is a a good exclusive...

2011-10-01T15:14:58.657-04:00

I don't think breastmilk is a a good exclusive food for most adults. It is made for babies who have specific nutritional needs. Adults have different ones. Breastmilk could be PART of a healthy diet but it's not a complete one for an adult. For example, a more appropriate "experiment" would be to replace ruminant dairy products with human dairy products. I hope he's getting his nutrient levels checked during this experiment.

Oh this is just silly. I think the information ga...

2011-09-26T09:08:43.566-04:00

Oh this is just silly. I think the information gathered from this experiment would be really interesting, but as a whole I think it is bad for the breastfeeding community. Once again an extreme is being presented that the average american can NOT relate to. :(

I think it's none of my business what they do ...

2011-09-25T15:33:50.768-04:00

I think it's none of my business what they do with their own milk.

"Or are most people just thinking "gross" and rolling their eyes when they hear about grown folks consuming breastmilk?"

You, or I, or this family are not responsible for other peoples' biases. Those who want to say "gross" are making that choice and frankly there's little that could convince that set that breastmilk isn't gross, that moms should hide ina bathroom stall, etc. etc.
Anecdotally, I am envious of her pumping ability. I was only able to support my own babies but had wished I could help others, and couldn't. I am also impressed with her and her family's ability to support not only her premies but to be willing to donate. Given her track record, from what I can tell, if a family comes along as a result of the blog and it's practical to donate to them, I'm thinking she'd consider it.

Oh, that SUCKS. So sorry!

2011-09-24T11:32:28.146-04:00

Oh, that SUCKS. So sorry!

Apparently they have also taken the blog down, but...

2011-09-24T10:25:47.514-04:00

Apparently they have also taken the blog down, but will continue on with their "experiment" in private.

You all will be happy to know that the milk is goi...

2011-09-23T23:07:46.990-04:00

You all will be happy to know that the milk is going to a set of preemie quadruplets. The hookup was facilitated by Emma Kwasnica of Human Milk 4 Human Babies.

Have they taken the blog down? I'm with othe...

2011-09-22T22:01:18.341-04:00

Have they taken the blog down?

I'm with other commenters -- I can't believe they couldn't find a recipient for the milk! Where are they located? Cause I know mamas who would be greatful for it! It really does seem wontonly wasteful.

But, if really and truely no one wants the milk, sure -- they should do what they want with it. Maybe it will help out his tummy troubles. I'd probably barf if I had that much milk in a day, but maybe breastmilk wouldn't cause that same response.

Isn't it weird how cow milk gets to be "milk" and breastmilk has to have the special modifier? Why isn't human milk just "milk" and the other "cow milk" or whatever?

All I can say is wow...that is alotta milk. I just...

2011-09-22T17:14:40.073-04:00

All I can say is wow...that is alotta milk. I just had to throw 300 oz out due to the deep freeze getting it's outlet tripped and no one noticed till today :(

She said in one of the early blog posts that she d...

2011-09-22T17:08:55.055-04:00

She said in one of the early blog posts that she didn't believe in donating to milk banks because they charge families for the milk and very few infants ever get any of it. I'm on my phone but will see if I can find her exact words, if it's still there. In a blog post yesterday she changed her tune to say she had tried to donate to a milk bank but was turned down for taking tylenol and the milk being too old.
Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

----- Reply message -----

I had trouble locating her philosophical objection...

2011-09-22T16:46:35.811-04:00

I had trouble locating her philosophical objection. What am I missing?

Hate the stunt factor but if she is telling the tr...

2011-09-22T16:44:20.633-04:00

Hate the stunt factor but if she is telling the truth about not being able to find someone to donate to, more power to them. I didn't see anything on the blog about Prolacta but I had the same problem trying to donate milk to a HMBANA bank. Any medication, over the counter or otherwise, and the milk is refused (at least that was the case when I tried 12 years ago or so). I dumped literally gallons of breast milk because there were no informal milk sharing communities on the Internet and HMBANA refused my milk (even though I was willing to pay the fortune for shipping that is likely cost prohibitive for most people). Honestly, if her blog draws attention to the need to link donors and donees, more power to them. I am unlikely to read their blog though. With three kids and one adult in my house with GI issues, I get enough info about the poop of people I love. Tracking the bowel movements of a stranger is low on my list of interests.

If a human being had too choose just one food to s...

2011-09-22T10:39:54.206-04:00

If a human being had too choose just one food to survive on, I guess breastmilk would indeed be the best option. However, I think this isn't raising awareness at all, rather putting breastfeeding - yet again - in the weird and wacky category. Couldn't she have found a recipient through HM4HB?

It may be a stunt, but I don't think oulandish...

2011-09-22T09:50:35.001-04:00

It may be a stunt, but I don't think oulandish. We drink cow's milk, but not human milk. Just not sure if I'd be drinking MILK alone, regardless of where it came from.

Oh, and do they realize that milk changes accordin...

2011-09-22T09:36:52.257-04:00

Oh, and do they realize that milk changes according to the baby's needs and age? When is this milk from? Are they taking that into account?

I think it's a stunt. If they wanted to find ...

2011-09-22T09:34:36.273-04:00

I think it's a stunt. If they wanted to find someone to take the milk they could. It also doesn't seem like it's going to be a very worthwhile or even valid "experiment" because he's not planning on getting a doctor to monitor his health or provide pre- and post-medical data (blood work, etc.). If he really wanted this to be legitimate, he would need to do something like the Supersize Me guy.

That aside, I still think it's weird and a little silly. Yes, I've tasted my breastmilk...but drinking whole glasses? And not having any other food? There's a reason why we introduce solids between 6 and 9 months, and that children wean. It's not just that it's breastmilk; we don't drink much of other milks in our house either. It's the perfect food for babies, not adults. (And I say that as a CLC and mom of a nursing two-year old.)

They could donate the milk to Get Pumped! It'...

2011-09-22T00:19:57.890-04:00

They could donate the milk to Get Pumped! It's a non-profit based in Florida that provides milk to babies in need. http://getpumpedonline.org/

Eh...I think this is weird and cheapens the nouris...

2011-09-21T21:48:40.544-04:00

Eh...I think this is weird and cheapens the nourishment that BABIES get from their moms' milk. This is ok with Katie? There's got to be a line somewhere, no matter how passionately one takes their role as a doula and a master milk pumper.

Um...as an adoptive mother, I'd really appreci...

2011-09-21T18:23:24.519-04:00

Um...as an adoptive mother, I'd really appreciate some of her breastmilk...however, it is HER milk, her choice what to do with it. I like it and, in response to your question, think it is the latter (amazing).

I guess it depends on how it is presented. But the...

2011-09-21T15:06:46.540-04:00

I guess it depends on how it is presented. But the general public is going to think "eww gross!" My first thought though is that breastmilk is not meant to be an exclusive food past the first year of life, so that makes this whole experiment kind of invalid.

Our Growing Garden

So if he does lose weight/get sick/have problems, ...

2011-09-21T13:45:51.085-04:00

So if he does lose weight/get sick/have problems, then the answer to this experiment is....that breastmilk is somehow insufficient for babies? That grown adults shouldn't try to live on it? Will he try next month to live entirely on formula? It's her milk and her business, but by blogging it she does open it up to discussion and judgment. But I do think she can do whatever she wants - I just will be interested to see how teh Intarwebz reacts. (I'm not hopeful on that one.)

That update about the milk being too old is new an...

2011-09-21T13:15:52.171-04:00

That update about the milk being too old is new and went up after this post was composed by me. I've never heard of a mom being turned away as a donor because she took Motrin after birth. I'd love if someone in the know could confirm that is true.
I'm not really sure how anyone could think it's not a publicity stunt, though. If you don't want attention, why are you blogging about it? They've received a request for an interview from ABC News. Let's see if they take it.
----- Reply message -----

My knee jerk reaction is not a positive one.... bu...

2011-09-21T11:54:47.716-04:00

My knee jerk reaction is not a positive one.... but trying to "judge not, lest ye be judged".... her milk, her husband, her choice. None of my damn business....

Yes, and news reports coming out daily about how o...

2011-09-21T11:40:29.320-04:00

Yes, and news reports coming out daily about how our banks are running out of milk. I could understand more if she *couldn't* donate to a bank because of a medication she's taking or because she lived in England at the height of mad cow disease. But I really don't understand a philosophical opposition to milk banks. I bet if someone left a link to this post on the Facebook wall of Eats on Feets or Human Milk for Human Babies, she'd have tons of moms who are willing to pay for shipping the milk and blood tests.

----- Reply message -----