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Desperate new mothers sourcing breastmilk for babies via social media communities

Instead of pump and dump, it’s now pump and ziplock....

In a new trend sweeping across Australia, mothers have begun to freeze their excess breastmilk in a bid to help out other mums who are unable to breastfeed their own children.

The phenomenon is being shared widely online via social media sites gathering tens of thousands of followers.

The community of mothers are freezing their breastmilk in zip-lock packages. Source: Facebook/ Eats on Feets.
The community of mothers are freezing their breastmilk in zip-lock packages. Source: Facebook/ Eats on Feets.

The community of mothers are freezing their breastmilk in zip-lock packages or in bottles then offering up the excess milk for free to other mothers in need.

The mothers have said they have been forced to use sites such as Human Milk 4 Human Babies and Eats on Feets due to a shortage of hospital approved milk banks.

The purpose of traditional milk banks is to collect, screen and redistribute milk donated by nursing mothers.

Under Australian law you are not permitted to sell body parts however due to the fact that the breast milk is being donated, the women are not technically breaking the law.

In a new trend sweeping across Australia mothers have begun to freeze their excess breastmilk in a bid to help out other mums who are unable to breastfeed their own children. Source: Getty Images.
In a new trend sweeping across Australia mothers have begun to freeze their excess breastmilk in a bid to help out other mums who are unable to breastfeed their own children. Source: Getty Images.

However health authorities are issuing stern warning about the practice of sharing breastmilk.

Professor Peter Collignon an infectious diseases expert warned there could be bacterial issues if the milk was left at room temperature.

“Bugs can multiply and be in much higher numbers than when delivered at the nipple,” he told News Corp.

Prof Collignon also said that if breastfeeding was an issue for mums, formula would be a better alternative than unregulated milk.

The community of mothers are freezing their breastmilk in zip-lock packages. Source: Facebook/ Eats on Feets.
The community of mothers are freezing their breastmilk in zip-lock packages. Source: Facebook/ Eats on Feets.

One mother recently posted onto one of the breastfeeding communities, “I have quite a few syringes filled with colostrum in the freezer”.

“I started pumping 12 weeks ago (at 36 weeks) and pumped for 4 weeks, so it will all progressively go out of date over the next 4 weeks.

“I’d love to pass it on to anyone who can use it. Vegan, healthy-eating mumma, so potentially suitable for bubs with dairy or egg intolerances.”

A NSW Health spokeswoman confirmed to News Corp there were no current laws governing the exchange of breastmilk.