Amsterdam Milk Bank chosen over HM4HB due to screening concerns

News item on Radio Netherlands interviews woman who wanted to donate breastmilk and chose a new milk bank at the Amsterdam VU University over Human Milk 4 Human Babies, because, says the reporter, she was "suspicious (of HM4HB) because the donors aren't medically screened." The photo with the item is supplied by VU Medical Centre. The reporter didn't interview anyone from HM4HB but interviewed the mom, someone from UNICEF, and a milk bank researcher who says "we know that breastmilk is good for premature babies, but donor milk is pasteurised and frozen. We want to investigate whether it still has advantages over infant formula milk." The mom no longer donates - her baby is eight months old and she continues to breastfeed but she's gone back to work and doesn't have time to express extra milk.

Breast milk: a matter of supply and demand | Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Breast milk: a matter of supply and demand
Published on : 7 December 2011 - 3:05pm | By Belinda van Steijn (Photo: VU Medical Centre)
More about: breast feeding Children's rights Dutch medical research
“I’m looking for breast milk for my baby because my own is dropping off now I’ve gone back to work.” It’s one of many similar messages on Facebook. There’s a lively trade in breast milk on the internet. Breast milk networks, milk banks and individuals are working hard to match up supply and demand...