Chen Xiaohui, co-founder of the breast milk bank in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, told the Health News that the donated milk was only offered to newborn sick babies because of its scarcity.
A total of 288 mothers have donated their breast milk since the bank was founded in August 2013, and the amount of milk donated each day can help five to six sick babies, about a tenth of the 60 sick babies in need of breast milk every day in the hospital, Chen said.
Both Liu and Chen said that the complicated donation process impeded the amount of milk banks received.
China's breast milk banks require mothers to donate in the hospital to ensure safety, Liu said, adding that banks in the US collect milk pumped by donors at home.
Online sales
Many mothers who are sick or give birth to sick babies turn to buying breast milk online, which triggered the popularity of the breast milk business.
On an information sharing website, there are dozens of sellers available in Beijing. Some of them posted photos of frozen milk with a storage time labeled on the bag, the milk pump and their meals. Some even claimed that they have passed milk tests conducted by hospitals.
A Beijing seller surnamed Zhao told the Beijing News that she earned several thousands of yuan for selling her breast milk since she had her child.
Zhao admitted that many buyers asked her about the safety of the milk, and she could only provide her health report conducted when she delivered her baby. She believed that the frozen milk can be stored for one year.
Another seller surnamed Huang said that frozen breast milk cannot be stored for more than four months, otherwise, the nutrition would be lost.
Doctors at Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospital and Chaoyang Women and Children Hospital in Beijing told the Beijing News that their hospitals do not have breast milk tests.
A doctor at a private hospital said that the breast milk test the hospital offered only checks for nutrition, not bacteria and viruses.
Yun Wuxin, a food engineering doctor with Purdue University in the US, was quoted by the Beijing News as saying that breast milk sold online does not go through any checks or disinfections, which could pose safety concerns. "We should oppose selling breast milk even it's not illegal."
Long-term development
Cai Guobin, a member of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, submitted a proposal calling on all the provinces in China to establish breast milk banks during this year's meetings for top legislators and political advisors, which is the first proposal of its kind, the Southern Weekly reported.
Breast milk banks in countries like Bulgaria are subsidized by the government, and offer milk for free to sick babies. Banks in the US also obtain financial support from the government, and charge a certain fee from users, according to the Health News.
In China, there are only a few hospitals running banks by themselves. Donation and use are both for free.
Liu said that a total of 2 million yuan ($322,400) has been invested in the bank so far, including 500,000 yuan for operating the equipment.
"We could not maintain operations without support we received from hospitals and some private donations."
The online sale of breast milk reflects the importance of establishing breast milk banks, Liu said, adding that the country should draft regulations on collection and fees for using the milk to ensure the long-term development of the banks.
