Do you share your breast milk with other new moms? If so, you may want to think twice about doing so next time.
US health officials are cautioning new parents who share breast milk instead of turning to baby formula. While breast milk is considered the perfect food for infants because of all the nutrients stored in it, the FDA is now reluctant to okay the practice.
The agency urged parents Nov. 30 not to casually use breast milk from other, unscreened mothers because of the risk of disease or contamination from bacteria, drugs, or chemicals.
"FDA recommends against feeding your baby breast milk acquired directly from individuals or through the Internet," the agency wrote. Instead, parents should talk to their doctors and use breast milk from special human milk banks, it recommended.
