Body Builders and Breast Milk

[belle0720]

Just saw this article in my facebook feed...

abc7news.com/health/the-latest-trend-in-weightlifting-breast-milk/522268/

CN: Some bodybuilders are paying big bucks for breast milk under the belief that it will help them bulk up. 

Thoughts?

[belle0720]

I think it's pretty weird.

Although the idea that I could be making $1,200/month off of my breast milk doesn't sound too shabby, I can definitely see why some women might decide to sell theirs.

[mrskblack11]

Hmmm... breast milk has less protein and more fat.... You would think a body builder would want more protein and less fat......


But if someone wants to pay me $1,200 a month for my extra breast milk......I will take the cash.

[Widget123]

I've heard about this before, but I don't understand the appeal / logic. Needy babies are much more important than fad-following body builders anyway. I didn't get a chance to donate any milk to a milk bank last time before it went bad but I am definitely considering it this time.

[ajm11]

I didn't rotate my freezer stash properly last time, and ended up with a ton of expired milk. I probably could have funded a vacation with all that milk! Seriously, though, I think the whole body builder breastmilk thing is weird. I don't get the appeal.

[noeliav]

Maybe I'll do this for year 2, as our milk bank doesn't accept after the first year $1200 is super tempting, lol.

Seriously, though, does the article discuss that selling of bodily fluids/parts is illegal? Or, am I off in thinking that?

[donizetti]

My husband and I are both powerlifters and have heard of the practice for quite some time. When I got pregnant my husband mentioned drinking some of my breast milk to see if this trend was all it was cracked up to be (half joking half not). Several of our friends have even brought it up and asked if he was really going to do it and if I would be on board. I honestly don't really know how I feel about it. Part of me says, "it's not all that different than drinking cow's or goat's milk", the other part of me says "yes, yes it is very different".

As far as selling of bodily fluids/parts: Men are monetarily compensated for sperm donation and women are monetarily compensated for egg donation. Why not also compensate women for milk donation?

[belle0720]

noeliav donizetti Regarding the selling of bodily fluids, I would guess (though it's not something I am interested in researching at work) there is probably some sort of website/business that hooks up buyers and sellers in a legal format. There could easily be a 'black market' for it though, I'm not sure.

[noeliav]

donizetti
Well, yes, those are two examples where compensation occurs, but they are done through licensed facilities, usually.

I'm thinking that paying a man for his sperm just off the street would be illegal, whereas going to a sperm bank is not. Like, milk banks are not illegal, but selling your milk could be?

I do know that Eats on Feets, for example, facilitates milk donations between mamas for their babies. I'm fairly certain no compensation is exchanged/allowed. belle0720

[islandgirl14]

Feb 18, 2015 10:56:54 GMT -5 Widget123 said:

I've heard about this before, but I don't understand the appeal / logic. Needy babies are much more important than fad-following body builders anyway. I didn't get a chance to donate any milk to a milk bank last time before it went bad but I am definitely considering it this time.

Pretty much this! I've heard of this as well, and to be honest, it made me mad. I'd much rather it see go to babies in need before it went to body builders. I have nothing against body builders, but I just feel that the need is far, far greater in babies.

[schnurette]

Eugh vomit.

That said - when I had DD I had a wicked milk supply and after our lactation specialist mentioned it in passing I did some research - apparently there is a huge market for breast milk which totally weirds me out. People who don't have breast milk looking to buy from those who do.

Of course, my breast milk made DD miserable and I ended up throwing away my entire freezer stash once we switched her to formula and saw how much happier she was sooooo....