Mothers Who Engage in Long-Term Informal Milk Sharing.
Publication Title
MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2020
Abstract
Human milk has repeatedly been shown to be the best form of infant nutrition. Many reasons may prevent a family from providing human milk to their child, leaving them to seek other options. One alternative is informal milk sharing, where individuals and families find donor milk through online communities. We present perspectives from three mothers who used informal milk sharing for at least 6 months. Common themes identified are sadness, guilt, and stigmatization of informal milk sharing. Implications for practice include providing families and practitioners with resources for learning about informal milk sharing and navigating the community safely.
Area of Special Interest
Women & Children
Area of Special Interest
Digestive Health
Specialty/Research Institute
Nursing
Specialty/Research Institute
Perinatology/Neonatology
Specialty/Research Institute
Nutrition
