In a recent Instagram update, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, who welcomed her first child with husband Travis Barker in November, shared a surprising revelation: she “pounded a glass of breast milk” when feeling under the weather.
While the 44-year-old reality TV star is within her rights to consume her own milk, her post prompts a deeper question: Does drinking one’s own breast milk, or that of another human, truly enhance immunity?
This query has been pondered frequently, with breast milk often hailed by wellness aficionados, food enthusiasts, and fitness buffs as a natural superfood capable of aiding recovery, fostering muscle growth, bolstering the immune system, and even addressing conditions like erectile dysfunction, as outlined in a 2015 editorial from the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Numerous websites peddling breast milk for “adult buyers” often market the liquid at significantly inflated prices compared to milk intended for infant consumption. Some companies even offer breast milk-flavored lollipops devoid of actual breast milk content.
While the health benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers are widely acknowledged, scant research exists on the potential advantages for parents who consume their own milk.
Sierra Woods, a registered nurse, lactation consultant, and postpartum doula who founded MelaMama Maternal Wellness, a nonprofit supporting underrepresented mothers of color, offers insight: “The key consideration when contemplating adult consumption of human milk is weighing the risks against the benefits. While human breast milk is undoubtedly nutritious and beneficial for infants, its consumption by adults may not confer the same nutritional advantages and could potentially pose health risks.”
Miraculous Benefits of Adult Breast Milk Consumption: Fact or Fiction?
Clinical trials have yet to investigate whether mothers derive immune-boosting advantages from consuming their breast milk, as highlighted by Woods. Furthermore, there is no evidence supporting the idea that adults experience benefits from ingesting breast milk.
Woods explains, “This is due to the fact that the nutritional composition of breast milk is metabolized differently in infants’ digestive systems compared to adults’.” Additionally, the nutrient makeup of breast milk varies over time based on the specific needs of the baby.
Nevertheless, it is considered safe for mothers to consume their own breast milk, provided they adhere to the same safety measures employed to safeguard their baby’s milk. This includes sterilizing breastfeeding equipment and storing milk appropriately.
Breast milk furnishes infants with vital nutrients crucial for healthy growth and contains antibodies that can shield them from various short- and long-term illnesses, including asthma, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Furthermore, breastfeeding can lower mothers’ risks of breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, according to the CDC.
Some research suggests that when applied topically, breast milk may alleviate certain skin conditions.
Risks of Drinking Others’ Breast Milk Highlighted by Experts
Experts caution against consuming breast milk from sources other than one’s own due to potential health hazards. Raw human milk, whether bought online or obtained from acquaintances, carries similar risks of foodborne illness and infectious diseases as unpasteurized milk.
Research indicates that drinking someone else’s breast milk can expose individuals to hepatitis B and C, HIV, and syphilis, despite claims of virus testing during pregnancy. False negatives in tests and postpartum activities could result in unwitting transmission of viruses through breast milk.
Furthermore, substances like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and caffeine can transfer to breast milk, akin to the broader food chain. Katie Clark, a board-certified lactation consultant, advises against solely relying on breast milk for nutritional benefits due to its lower protein content compared to other milk like cow’s milk.
While personal anecdotes hold value, Clark emphasizes the lack of scientific study on adult breast milk consumption, suggesting alternative nutritional sources. However, if one insists on consuming breast milk, knowing its origin and handling can mitigate but not eliminate risks.
For those with excess breast milk, donation to local milk banks or repurposing into baby-friendly products like lotions, soaps, or popsicles is encouraged, suggests Sierra Woods.
