Mothers who can't produce breast milk sometimes look to others for their child's early meals.
Using breast milk to feed your newborn has been proven to be healthier than using formula.
Some people will turn to the Internet to buy milk that they can't produce.
But, certain breast milk could be doing more harm than good for your baby's health, according to a new study.
Of 101 samples purchased anonymously, nearly three-quarters of the samples contained bacteria that could make a baby sick.
Kristi Watterberg, MD, discusses the trend of sharing breast milk, including the potential dangers of buying it online.
Selected Podcast
Milk Sharing: Concerns of Buying Breast Milk
Featuring:
Dr. Kristi Watterberg is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico. She served as Chief of the Division of Neonatology from 2006–2011, and is now the Director of the UNM Signature Program in Child Health Research. Dr. Watterberg has received federal funding for more than 20 years for her observational and interventional studies exploring the relationships between prenatal and postnatal inflammation, adrenal function, and the development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (chronic lung disease in premature infants). Dr. Watterberg is the Principal Investigator at New Mexico for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (5U10 HD053089), which has multiple ongoing observational and interventional studies, and she was recently awarded a grant from NIH to study adrenal function at age six in children born extremely preterm (NHLBI R01 HL117764-01A1). Author of over 60 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Watterberg serves on NIH peer review panels, is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research and the American Pediatric Society, and is chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn (2013–2017).
Kristi Watterberg, MD
Dr. Kristi Watterberg is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico. She served as Chief of the Division of Neonatology from 2006–2011, and is now the Director of the UNM Signature Program in Child Health Research. Dr. Watterberg has received federal funding for more than 20 years for her observational and interventional studies exploring the relationships between prenatal and postnatal inflammation, adrenal function, and the development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (chronic lung disease in premature infants). Dr. Watterberg is the Principal Investigator at New Mexico for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (5U10 HD053089), which has multiple ongoing observational and interventional studies, and she was recently awarded a grant from NIH to study adrenal function at age six in children born extremely preterm (NHLBI R01 HL117764-01A1). Author of over 60 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Watterberg serves on NIH peer review panels, is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research and the American Pediatric Society, and is chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn (2013–2017).