Introduction: Sharing Milk

This chapter provides original sociological thinking in order to bear on contemporary gender relations, divisions, and issues of concern to feminists. It analyzes human milk-sharing communities in a large metropolitan area in southeastern United States. It also describes the practices of milk-sharing, the meanings ascribed to human milk, and the labour involved in its production. The chapter builds on existing scholarship and theoretical frameworks to develop a model for understanding contemporary forms of bodily sharing. It explains how feeding of human milk to socially and biologically unrelated infants is a normal method of infant feeding documented throughout human history and in societies around the world.

Theorizing Milk Sharing

This chapter highlights the ways in which milk-sharing encompasses an array of embodied and social practices through the experiences of a single mother named Anna. It explores how milk itself has an important material presence in Anna's story as she describes the ways she transports, stores, and handles it, alongside the deep emotional connection she experiences with it. It also shows human milk-sharing as a community practice and material that form a theoretical groundwork on various aspects of milk-sharing. The chapter references Étienne Wenger's communities of practice model to propose the notion of bio-communities of practice, which are characterized by bio-intimacy. It explains how bio-intimacy is interconnected with the materiality of human milk, particularly as an emotionally laden substance.

Shariah Compliance Human Milk Sharing Online Application

In this era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, everyone relies on the Internet in their daily lives. Recent research shows the blooming of Internet-based milk sharing, i.e. Eats On Feets and Human Milk 4 Human Babies, which are already operating in nearly 40 countries. Both organisations mentioned use Facebook to connect mothers, and practise under a commerce-free model in which milk is not bought and sold, but is freely given. However, Muslim community cannot fully utilize this platform as Islam has several guidelines regarding human milk sharing which is not covered by them. This paper presents a framework for milk sharing online web application that complies with Islamic laws featuring storing donors and recipients data in the database, managing human milk transactions and connecting both parties in the form of ‘Family Tree’ to keep track and avoid confusion regarding mixed lineage. The research methodology base on the (1) urgent need to find a human milk supply, especially for preterm babies, sick infants and those infants that cannot be breastfed, (2) high awareness of mothers who are awarded with surplus human milk to share their milk to the infants in need, and (3) online human milk selling phenomenon that will cause confusion especially among Muslims related to mahram and heredity, their infant’s safety and health issues. As a conclusion, this system is able to provide solutions to all three interrelated issues. The privilege of this system is that it provides the opportunity for infants to enjoy human milk from other women, while at the same time linking the siblings' linkages as outlined by Islamic law.

Current Trends in Research on Human Milk Exchange for Infant Feeding

Breastfeeding is critical for the healthy growth and development of infants. A diverse range of infant-feeding methods are used around the world today. Many methods involve feeding infants with expressed human milk obtained through human milk exchange. Human milk exchange includes human milk banking, human milk sharing, and markets in which human milk may be purchased or sold by individuals or commercial entities. In this review, we examine peer-reviewed scholarly literature pertaining to human milk exchange in the social sciences and basic human milk sciences. We also examine current position and policy statements for human milk sharing. Our review highlights areas in need of future research. This review is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and others who provide evidence-based care to families about infant feeding.

A Liberation Health Approach to Examining Challenges and Facilitators of Peer-to-Peer Human Milk Sharing

Background: Human milk sharing between peers is a common and growing practice. Although human milk has been unequivocally established as the ideal food source for infants, much stigma surrounds the practice of human milk sharing. Furthermore, there is little research examining peer-to-peer human milk sharing. Research Aim: We used the liberation health social work model to examine the experiences of mothers who have received donated human milk from a peer. Research questions were as follows: (a) What challenges do recipient mothers experience in peer-to-peer human milk sharing? (b) What supports do recipient mothers identify in peer-to-peer human milk sharing? Methods: Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with mothers ( N = 20) in the United States and Canada who were recipients of peer-to-peer human milk sharing. Researchers independently reviewed transcripts and completed open, axial, and selective coding. The authors discussed conflicts in theme identification until agreement was reached. Results: Challenges to peer-to-peer human milk sharing were (a) substantial effort required to secure human milk; (b) institutional barriers; (c) milk bank specific barriers; and (d) lack of societal awareness and acceptance of human milk sharing. Facilitators included (a) informed decision making and transparency and (b) support from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Despite risks and barriers, participants continued to pursue peer-to-peer human milk sharing. Informed by a liberation health framework, healthcare professionals—rather than universally discouraging human milk sharing between peers—should facilitate open dialogue with parents about the pros and cons of this practice and about screening recommendations to promote safety and mitigate risk.