Buy, sell or donate breast milk online? | Moms

The web has made it possible for mothers and parents to network with one another about  these topics. But with the vastness of the Internet, it's difficult finding the right sites for your specific situation.

Here is a list of websites that could help answer your questions about the purchasing, selling or donating of breast milk:

Only The Breast- A Community for Moms to Buy, Sell, & Donate Natural Breast Milk

http://www.onlythebreast.com/

At Onlythebreast.com, mothers can network on this site and check out classified ads about buying or selling their excess breast milk. The site also offers forums and reviews of both the sellers and buyers, almost like an ebay rating system.

This site functions purely on trust and the relationship the buyer and seller make with one another during a possible transaction. Mothers can communicate and network with one another to find the right fit.

There is no mandated screening process, so seller or buyer beware, you must do all of your own screening.

As a possible buyer of breast milk, you should be prepared with questions to ask the seller. View the list of questions here.

Craigslist

An online site where you can buy, trade, sell or network for services. Many mothers are turning to their local craigslist site to help put them in contact with moms in their community.

This can help bring breast milk faster since it’s not across the country and it’s local. Plus this may give you the possibility to meet the mom in person and get to know them more to help build a relationship.

Unfortunately there is no screening process here as well, so mothers should be cautious and use their best judgement.

Milk Bank: A Prolacta Milk Banking Network

http://milkbanking.net/

Milkbanking.net is a site that focuses on the locating a milk bank and donating milk for premature infants. There is no buying or selling of the breast milk.

To become a donor, there are strict screenings and they abide by the HIPAA Regulations, a privacy rule for health information.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html

Milkin’ Mamas: Breast Milk Donations for Continental U.S. and Prolacta Bioscience: Advancing the Science of Human Milk

http://milkinmamas.com/

They are partnered with Prolacta Bioscience http://www.prolacta.com/, which works on human milk-based nutritional products for premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Milkin’ Mamas helps to inform possible breast milk donors and gives them a place to get all the information they need to become a donor and why they should.

Both Milkin’ Mamas and Prolacta Bioscience have rigorous screenings for their donors.

• Initial screening
• Donor testing, similar to blood testing.
  • Testing the DNA and the blood for any illegal substances or any medical conditions, such as HIV, infectious hepatitis, tobacco use and more.
• Once approved then the donor is sent the proper kit and how to send in their breast milk.

Human Milk Banking Association of North America

http://www.hmbana.org/

A non-profit association focused on human milk bank donations. It provides information on milk banking, donating milk, ordering milk and a resource for health care providers. Their mission is to promote and protect the support of donor milk banking. HMBANA has set standards and guidelines for donor milk banking establishments and operations in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. since 1985.

And for those who are in the market of buying breast milk, here's a list of a qualifications to help you decide whether someone is a good enough candidate to supply your baby with their breast milk.