May 4, 2006

By Dan Savage

Tell Capitalist Mom GFE (Google fucking exists).

I hit Google myself after reading your article, and got a plethora of articles on milk banks, moms looking to sell, and various shopping sites apparently pimping it. With a more defined search I’m sure she can find something along her line.

Alternatively, she could try asking at her hospital or La Leche League—although I wouldn’t recommend mentioning that she’s looking to sell to fetishists. There are plenty of women out there who can’t breastfeed or don’t produce enough milk, and La Leche League has people convinced that feeding your baby formula is child abuse. As a result, there are a number of gullible mammary-impaired women out there plopping down huge bucks for a stranger’s milk. As selling breast milk is technically a black-market affair (there are milk banks that require prescriptions and collect something like $3.25 an ounce), she might want to be discreet about it.

Would Totally Sell If She Were Lactating

I’ve had people offer to buy my breast milk, so I know there’s a market for it. However, it’s easier—and legally, I’m guessing, more advisable—for Capitalist Mom to do photo shoots squirting milk. I did it for Juggs magazine, and they paid me quite well. She could probably continue to sell photos to magazines and websites, or even start her own site, the whole time she’s lactating. If she doesn’t have her own photographer, the mags/sites could hook her up with one. In fact, if she’s in the L.A. area I could refer her to the woman who did my shoot!

Sexy Momma

I’m writing in response to Capitalist Mom, who was wondering about selling her breast milk to fetishists. While it may be the case that some people get off on drinking, having, playing with, making popsicles, etc., out of breast milk, it is also the case that people with cancer appear to be able to derive benefits from drinking it.

It seems to be the case that breast milk, which carries antibodies and all sorts of other good things (which is why, of course, it’s good for babies), can similarly be of genuine benefit to folks who have compromised immune systems. The caveat being that breast milk, insomuch as it is extremely fatty, does tend to carry a rather unfortunate amount of the environmental toxins that we pick up and store in our fat cells, from things like eating mercury-heavy tuna, inhaling all day in office environments where lots of plastics are off-gassing, or, I don’t know, smoking or some such.

So, my overlong point is, Capitalist Mom might want to think about investigating the possibility of selling her breast milk to folks trying to fight off cancer. I believe there is a market opportunity.

Nick In Charlottesville

First, I just want to warn readers that breast milk is a major source of vertical transmission of HIV—that is, from mother to infant. So there would also exist a concern for breast milk giving an adult drinker HIV.

Safety First

Here is a story about selling human breast milk from the San Francisco Chronicle: www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/09/MNGLKI6FTA1.DTL&hw=breast+milk&sn=001&sc=1000.

The article focuses on adoptive parents and others who purchase breast milk for their children because of the potential health benefits. But the story points out that many sellers are creeped out by contact from “…men who don’t seem to have babies,” so I’m sure that Capitalist Mom would do just fine on one of the sites the reporter mentions.

I Google Instead of Working

To the capitalist cow who wants to sell her milk: If she had any sense of decency she would donate her milk to a breast-milk bank. There is one in Vancouver, BC, and I bet there are some in American cities as well. It is one of the few ways that premature or sick babies, or babies of sick mothers, can get proper nutrition early in life. As it is now, we have to feed babies lots of artificially prepared ‘formulas’ so that they can survive. They have calories, but not all of the other benefits of breast milk.

Screw the fetishists, feed a sick baby.

Do Something Good

The breastfeeding moms I know, their nipples cracked and sore, feel like their breasts are eating their bodies. They CANNOT FUCKING BELIEVE how long it takes to squeeze out a half-bottle of milk—granting them a whole new respect for the gallons on sale at the supermarket. Extracurricular milk production isn’t high on their to-do lists.

D.C. Cynic

First, I’m not a lawyer, just a law student with an interest in sexual rights, gay and straight. I just wanted to alert you that there is at least some concern regarding criminal liability for people interested in the sorts of businesses about which Capitalist Mom inquired. Not too long ago, a female college student was convicted under a federal statute for sending dirty panties, used vibrators, “menstrual themed” products, etc., to paying customers who located her on the web. (Here’s an article from the Concerned Women for America, an organization of antiporn crusaders that praises the conviction: www.cwfa.org/articles/665/CFI/cfreport/index.htm.)

With the Bush administration declaring a war on porn, and following through, the next few years will likely produce some landmark events for sexual rights. It’s especially unclear how the Lawrence decision will figure into this; not just pornography, but sexual rights generally.

Concerned About Concerned Americans

Regarding Capitalist Mom and her search for a breast-milk market, I doubt her claim that she “looked online,” since typing in “sell breast milk” returns lots of good results. Regardless of her competence, you might check out a blog post I did on this very subject last month: www.tothepeople.com/2006/04/peak-breast-milk.html. It includes links to a website where she might get in touch with people who want to buy her milk for up to about $3 per ounce.

Tothepeople.com Is The Shit

There was an underground bank set up to sell human milk to cancer sufferers—if Capitalist Mom would like to cash in on the desperation and suffering of others. Or she could share her good fortune and donate breast milk. I donated to a milk bank for months that provided for premature babies. The reason there is no payment for milk is the same reason blood donations aren’t paid for—they want to rely on the goodwill and altruism of donors.

Incidentally, breastfeeding saves quite a bit of money, but if you ever hope to recoup the costs of having a child, perhaps CM should start planning to get the nipper into law school/medical school. Or perhaps she could sell the child on the internet.

Socialist Mom

 

Commenting was not available when this article was originally published.

Comments (8) RSS

Newest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
8
I gave birth to my second son in July and I currently am producting double the amount of breast milk. I am a healthy breastfeeding mother with no sicknesses, diseases, have not drank any alcohol since July 2007, and have never done or try any drugs. I have stored well over 20 grocery bags full of individual bags from 3 oz to 10 oz per bag. The breast milk is taken up all the room in the deep freezer and I need to get rid of my breast milk to make more room. I am selling the breast milk for $2.00 per once for frozen and $5.00 per once for fresh milk. I will ship the breast milk in dry ice via overnight. The Buyer will be responsible for shipping and handling fee; however, if you purchase at least 100 oz in one request (order), the shipping and handling will be FREE of charge. If you are interested, please email me. Serious buyers only. scoop855@yahoo.com
Posted by faye on November 7, 2009 at 3:18 AM · Report
7
I gave birth to my second son in July and I currently am producting double the amount of breast milk. I am a healthy breastfeeding mother with no sicknesses, diseases, have not drank any alcohol since July 2007, and have never done or try any drugs. I have stored well over 20 grocery bags full of individual bags from 3 oz to 10 oz per bag. The breast milk is taken up all the room in the deep freezer and I need to get rid of my breast milk to make more room. I am selling the breast milk for $2.00 per once for frozen and $5.00 per once for fresh milk. I will ship the breast milk in dry ice via overnight. The Buyer will be responsible for shipping and handling fee; however, if you purchase at least 100 oz in one request (order), the shipping and handling will be FREE of charge. If you are interested, please email me. Serious buyers only. scoop855@yahoo.com
Posted by Faye on November 7, 2009 at 3:16 AM · Report
6
Um, hi- I have milk, too, but you can make as much money selling plasma, and it's alot easier to draw. Google "sell plasma + 'your city'" for plasma banks in your area.

Milk banks pasteruize the milk, killing the beneficial bacteria and enzymes, rendering it worthless. If you're feeling altruistic, volunteer to hang out with some underpriveledged kids or something.

Raw (unpasteurized, un-homogenized) cow's milk is almost as good as long as the cow is exclusively grass-fed. There's probably a farmer in your area that sells it. $6 to $13 a gallon, I thought it was expensive, but it sure ain't $3 an ounce.

www.realmilk.com
www.westinaprice.org

Posted by AlliMike on August 18, 2009 at 6:53 AM · Report
5
Looking to start selling my fresh milk starting in September. mustbeheven@yahoo.com All inquiries entertained.
Posted by tcarter1981 on August 14, 2009 at 9:22 AM · Report
4
I live on Fort Lewis. 24 yr old, heathly, no dieases, non-smoker, do not drink caffeine. looking to sell breastmilk. email me at kyrahyvonne@hotmail.com or at www.myspace.com/tastefullysimplerules
Posted by Lovinmybabies on July 9, 2009 at 9:02 AM · Report
3
I am a 22 year old healthy mother of a 9 month old looking to sell my breastmilk e-mail me at mommysmilk@hotmail.com for more info!
Posted by mommysmilk on July 1, 2009 at 11:25 AM · Report
2
i am a 20yr old new mom selling breast milk, in dallas texas, will ship it $2 an oz email me at getyourmilk24@yahoo.com
Posted by getyourmilk on June 9, 2009 at 1:09 AM · Report
1
hot 20 year old asian mom selling her breast milk.
Insomeniackkk@aol.com
Posted by stephy on March 15, 2009 at 7:08 PM · Report

Add a comment