Breast milk pumping at school student

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 27, 2015

Guess I'm just too "raised in the 80s" because I would NEVER breastfeed a baby if I were HIV positive, and I'm the biggest breastfeeding proponent there is. I nursed my oldest for 16 months and my other four until age 3. But NEVER would I do that with HIV. I find that research hard to believe and would never take the risk.

I don't think anyone is endorsing breastfeeding when you're HIV positive. All the health organizations nation and worldwide recommend in the US, that an HIV + mom NOT breastfeed.

In developing nations, where access to clean water is an issue and the mortality rate associated with formula use is high, it's recommend that she EXCLUSIVELY breastfeed until such time that she introduces anything else. Once that happens, she should wean cold-turkey. The risks to the baby of formula use in those areas are greater than the risks of breastfeeding while HIV+.

But that's neither here nor there, because the student in question is surely not HIV +.

Red Kryptonite · Mar 28, 2015

I don't think anyone is endorsing breastfeeding when you're HIV positive.

From the article: "WHO recommends that all mothers, regardless of their HIV status, practise exclusive breastfeeding â€“ which means no other liquids or food are given â€“ in the first six months. After six months, the baby should start on complementary foods."

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 28, 2015

That article is, IMO, very misleading, as they are focusing on African nations, specifically South Africa. Their recommendation remains:

The recommendation that replacement feeding should not be used unless it is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe (AFASS) remains, but the acronym is replaced by more common, everyday language and terms.

The recommendation to breastfeeding up to 12 months is with the understanding that ARV is available for the mother.

But like I said, it's irrelevant to this discussion about this particular student.

ETA: They updated their recommendations in 2013. They continue to recommend NOT breastfeeding in developed nations, including the US and UK

rbytsdy · Mar 28, 2015

A fine alternative to breastfeeding in poor African nations was Nestle sending powdered formula which moms had to reconstitute with dirty water making their infants sick. Ugh....

I digress.....

I too think it's awesome to support a 10th grader in breastfeeding. I had to read that a few times to make sure i read it right - a high school student was breastfeeding!!??? That really is wonderful for both mom and baby. While I wish a high student student hadn't gotten pregnant in the first place, I think it's great that she is making the effort to provide her baby with breastmilk.

Jolie, BSN · Mar 28, 2015

Actually according to the CDC breast-milk is not classed as a body fluid. Breastfeeding: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | DNPAO | CDC I pumped at the nursing home I worked at and my milk was never segregated. It just had to be well labelled so as I didn't get it mixed up with anyone else's. I was also able to store it in the staff room fridge or the fridge in the med room where the prescribed meal replacements were kept.

I would strongly encourage you and your employer to explore this with your local health department. While it is possible that your municipality allows this, I highly doubt it. If you were permitted to store your milk in this fashion at work, it was probably because no one was familiar with the regulations that govern storage of food and medication in settings regulated by local health departments and subject to the FDA Food Code.

Local health departments have the ultimate say in safety and sanitation regulations, but virtually every one in the country adopts the standards published by the FDA. The CDC does not deem breastmilk to be a "biohazard," and states that it requires no special handling in the workplace, that does not necessarily apply when your workplace is a hospital, residential or rehab facility, school, foodservice operation, or retail location that is subject to health department regulation, based on the FDA Food Code. So if you work at Smith's Widget Company, it may not violate health department regs to store your breast milk in a common refrigerator. If you work at Local Elementary School, placing it in the nurse's office refrigerator almost certainly does. And for good reason. Spilled or leaking breastmilk, biohazard or not, will contaminate medication vials, food packages, and beverages stored in the same refrigerator, creating a loss of medication and/or needed snacks for those whose items are stored there. Simple measures can and should be taken to prevent such a loss for those who depend upon their medications and snacks just as much as your baby depends upon your milk.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Mar 28, 2015

Spilled or leaking breastmilk, biohazard or not, will contaminate medication vials, food packages, and beverages stored in the same refrigerator, creating a loss of medication and/or needed snacks for those whose items are stored there.

Handling Expressed Milk | womenshealth.gov

National Business Group on Health (NBGH): Resources - Employer Toolkits: Investing in Workplace Breastfeeding Programs and Policies

Yes, breastmilk will "contaminate" other things in the fridge if it spills. Just like if you spilled a thermos of chicken noodle soup.

Jolie, BSN · Mar 28, 2015

Yes, breastmilk will "contaminate" other things in the fridge if it spills. Just like if you spilled a thermos of chicken noodle soup.

Which is exactly why chicken noodle soup does NOT belong in the same refrigerator as nutritional supplements, snacks for diabetic students or medication, either.

Geesh. Do you really not get it?

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Mar 29, 2015

Which is exactly why chicken noodle soup does NOT belong in the same refrigerator as nutritional supplements, snacks for diabetic students or medication, either.
Geesh. Do you really not get it?

No, i totally get it. Keep the milk on the bottom shelf where it won't get on anything if it spills. Of course, if the fridge is a designated "med fridge," then she should store it in the staff fridge or something. But there is no reason to treat breastmilk any different than any other food.

AppalachianSoul · Mar 29, 2015

I don't want someone's breast milk next to my medicine or food, honestly. It is technically food, but to me, it came out of somebody's body, so I really don't want anything to do with it unless I'm that person's baby. But it's a good thing that she is breastfeeding and staying in school.

pfongk · Mar 30, 2015

There was no meds in this fridge as such, it was all tetra packs of novasource or similar so if by some chance my milk had spilt, all that would've happened is it would've been wiped up and I would've cried.

Ankh · Mar 30, 2015

I think it is amazing that you are supporting your student into giving her baby the best nutrition available! Breast milk is a miraculous substance more valuable than gold. Very commendable work!