Some new moms buying, selling breast milk - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Every mother wants what's best for her baby. And experts like the American Academy of Pediatrics say what's best is breast milk. Breastfed babies have healthier immune systems and get nutrients formula just can't provide.

So some women with problems breastfeeding are going online and buying breastmilk at $2 and sometimes as much as $6 per ounce.

We found Kim, who is selling her breastmilk online. She's also offering it for free, hoping her oversupply will help another mom. While Kim's donor milk is likely perfectly safe, doctors don't recommend anonymous sharing.

"It's pretty risky," said FOX Chicago Medical contributor Dr. Mona Khanna. She advises using donor milk only when you know the mother's complete medical history, since everything from alcohol to HIV, can be passed along through breastmilk.

"If you can be assured that is safe, that the mother didn't indulge in bad habits like illicit drugs and that the breastmilk is properly preserved, that's the only situation you want to buy breastmilk," Dr. Khanna said.

Another concern is that the online world of breast milk sales can be a shady place. One mom said she was just trying to help other moms when men started calling with strange offers.

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital has now launched the region's first donor milk program, where tiny preemies and sick babies in neo-natal intensive care are fed only breastmilk. Data shows it's working, and the babies are getting healthier, faster. All the milk they use is pasteurized and donor moms have their blood tested.

And if you donate, you do it for free, because when moms receive money for their milk, you risk the chance its contaminated, or that they add cows milk to it to get greater yield.

So what should moms do? Doctors say formula is an OK option, or else get help. If a mom has trouble breastfeeding, seek help with a lactation expert or get medication. There are also new pumping methods.

More help is on the way. Breastfeeding advocates are creating the first Mother's Milk Bank of Western Illinois, slated to open next year.  There, mothers milk will be tested and pasteurized, offering healthy options for babies in need.