Do you want to learn how to sell breast milk and make extra money?
If you have extra breast milk, then selling it can be a good way for moms to make some extra money while also helping babies (and others) who need it or want it.
Today you will learn how to sell breast milk safely and legally, how much money you might be able to make, and how to make more milk if you want to.
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Key Takeaways
- Selling breast milk can help you make extra income as well as help babies in need.
- Correct hygiene and storage are extremely important, as you don’t want anyone to get sick from your milk.
- You can use websites and milk banks to sell or give away your breast milk. Some moms might give their milk away for free, while others might want to sell it for some extra money. There’s no right or wrong way.
- You can earn around $1 to $2 for each ounce of breast milk. Babies usually drink about 20 to 30 ounces each day, so this means you could make a good amount of money.
How To Sell Breast Milk
Is selling breast milk legal?
Selling breast milk is legal in most countries, such as in the United States.
However, you will want to check the rules in your area about selling bodily fluids as this will help you follow the law when you sell your breast milk. If you contact any of the milk banks listed below, they should be able to help you figure this out.
Is there a market for breast milk?
Yes, there is definitely a market for breast milk. Some new moms produce more milk than their babies need, and some moms struggle to produce enough.
By selling your extra milk, you can help parents who need milk, while making extra money. The demand for breast milk is mainly driven by mothers who struggle with low milk production or those who cannot produce milk at all.
But, there are other reasons why people buy breast milk as well, such as bodybuilders like breast milk because it’s high in fat and has a lot of calories.
You can decide who you want to sell your breast milk to. So, if anything makes you uncomfortable, simply state so.
Also, it is hard work pumping milk, so you will want to carefully think about the pros and cons to make sure it is worth it for you.
How much can you sell breast milk for?
If you have a large milk supply, you may be able to make a decent side income by selling your breast milk, and you may be able to earn around $1 to $2 per ounce.
I’ve read stories online where some people say that they earn $1,000 or even $2,000 a month selling their breast milk. While that’s most likely not the norm, as that would be a lot of extra milk supply that you have, you may still be able to earn at least some extra cash from the breast milk that you won’t be using.
6 Best Places To Sell Breast Milk
Below are the best places to sell breast milk to.
1. Only the Breast
Only the Breast is a popular site specifically for buying and selling breast milk. On this website, you can create breast milk listings and connect with possible buyers.
I browsed the site and they currently have over 3,000 listings for breast milk for sale. You can sell your breast milk in bulk for $0.25 to $0.50 per ounce, or not in bulk at $1.00 per ounce. You can also choose to sell your milk through a local listing on this site.
There were also several hundred listings on this site from people who were looking for specific breast milk to buy, which is a good sign that there are a lot of buyers out there!
With Only the Breast, you can also choose who you sell your breast milk to, such as only for babies and not for adults to drink.
2. Tiny Treasures Milk Bank
Tiny Treasures Milk Bank is a milk bank that pays $1.10 an ounce to healthy breastfeeding mothers for their time and effort. This company will give you the breast milk storage bags to put your milk into, but you will have to use your own pump.
This company works with Prolacta BioScience to make life-saving human milk-based nutritional products for ill and premature infants. They mostly sell their products to hospitals, but some are also used for research.
3. BreastfeedingMomsUnite
BreastfeedingMomsUnite is an online milk community and classified site covering all things related to breastfeeding, including the sale of breast milk.
You simply start by creating a milk ad with information about you and what you are selling. Once you have agreed on a deal with a parent, you then ship them your breast milk, usually on dry ice to make sure that it stays frozen.
4. Craigslist
Craigslist is a site where you can post an ad for selling pretty much anything, such as breast milk. While it is not the most specific site for this purpose, your listing can possibly reach a wide audience in your local area.
In your ad on Craigslist, you will want to include a picture of the milk you are selling, your price, and some information about you such as your medical history and drug use.
I did a quick search on Craigslist and found breast milk listings in several cities and the prices ranged from around $1.00 to $5.00 per ounce.
As always with Craigslist, be careful when dealing with potential buyers (make sure to meet in a public place) and you will want to make sure you have safe transactions.
5. Facebook groups
There are many Facebook groups that are dedicated to the buying and selling of breast milk.
You can search for groups in your area or country and join them to connect with potential buyers.
I hopped on Facebook and simply searched for “sell breast milk” in the search bar and a ton of Facebook groups popped up that I could join to sell breast milk. There are breast milk sale groups for different countries, different states, and even ones that are for a specific purpose (such as for sick babies or even bodybuilders).
Then, you will most likely post an ad for your breast milk, or see if there are any “wanted” listings that suit what you are trying to sell.
Donating breast milk
Donating breast milk can be a great way to help moms who are having trouble nursing or babies in need of human milk.
To donate breast milk, you may want to contact milk banks or organizations that handle milk donation such as the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). HMBANA is dedicated to making sure that all babies have access to human milk, either through breastfeeding or the use of pasteurized donor breast milk. Check out their website to find out more details on how to become a donor.
Another idea that you might also be interested in is donating your breast milk through informal milk sharing. La Leche League International mentions that some families practice cross-nursing or co-nursing, where babies receive human milk from people who are not their parents.
Before you donate your breast milk, you will need to make sure that it’s safe, and donated breast milk should be free from contamination to make sure the baby who is drinking the milk is safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food and Drug Administration recommend milk banks over online sites for this reason.
Here are a few tips for safe breast milk donation:
- Always use sterile containers when you pump and store your breast milk.
- Freeze your breast milk as soon as possible after pumping to preserve its quality.
- Label your containers with the date of pumping to make it easier for donation centers to track and manage their inventory.
- Make sure to follow the guidelines that the milk bank or donation group tells you (there’s usually a list that they will give you so that you know what to do and what not to do).
Things To Think About When Donating Or Selling Breast Milk
Here are some things to think about when selling breast milk.
Health and safety considerations
Before you sell your breast milk, you will, of course, want to make sure that it’s really clean and safe. So, this means you should get a good breast pump, keep everything clean, and store the milk in the correct temperatures at the right time.
Also, usually you cannot donate or sell breast milk if you are a smoker, if you have positive STD results, if you use medications, have tattoos, had a recent organ or tissue transplant, had a recent blood transfusion, and more. Milk banks typically want breast milk from healthy donor mothers.
You may have to take a blood test, get tested for things such as HIV, syphilis, or illegal drugs, and more before you can qualify to sell or donate breast milk. Some companies may require samples of breast milk as well before you get started.
Legal aspects
If you’re selling breast milk online, you should always be honest about yourself and your milk. You should share info about your health, what you eat, and how you live because it affects the milk’s quality and what a person may be looking for. This is SUPER important!
Challenges and risks
Selling breast milk can be a bit tricky as you have to find a place to sell it, usually on websites or social media groups. Sending it can be hard too, because it has to stay really cold so that it doesn’t melt and become spoiled.
Also, it takes a lot of time and effort to pump, which all moms know.
Personally, I pumped for over one year, and I found it to be very hard and time consuming. So, you will want to make sure that it is worth it for you.
If you remember these things and stay healthy and safe, selling your breast milk can be a good way to earn money and help babies who need it.
How To Increase Your Milk Supply
If you want to sell breast milk, you may be interested in knowing how to increase your supply. To help increase your milk supply, here are some tips.
Milkology course
Milkology is a site that has several breastfeeding and pumping resources. It is a resource for breastfeeding mothers who want to learn how to increase their milk supply.
I personally took this course when I was learning how to breastfeed and pump breast milk, and I thought it was very helpful (and affordable!).
These resources cover everything related to breastfeeding and nursing, including how to maintain a healthy breast milk supply which can be super helpful for those who want to sell breast milk.
To increase milk supply, here are some tips to get started:
- Nurse frequently – Aim for at least 8 to 12 feedings a day, approximately every two to three hours. Eventually, you can lower it, but in the beginning this is very important.
- Breast pump – You will want to use a breast pump to help with milk production without feeding a baby, especially if you plan to sell breast milk. A hands-free pump is also a lifesaver so that you can do things while pumping.
- Relax – I know this is easier said than done, but relaxing can really help to increase your milk supply. So, you may want to watch some TV, read a book, or eat a snack while pumping.
- Include lactation-supporting foods in your diet – This includes foods such as fenugreek, oatmeal or oat milk, fennel seeds, lean meat and poultry, and garlic.
By using these tips and taking the Milkology course, you may be able to increase your breast milk supply so that you can sell more breast milk.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Sell Breast Milk
Below are answers to common questions about how to sell breast milk.
Who buys breast milk?
Some people who might buy your breast milk include moms who can’t make enough milk and parents who adopt babies. Some adults might also buy it for themselves too.
Is it wrong to sell breast milk instead of donating it?
I know how hard it is to pump and to find the time to do so. I believe that your time is worth something, so do not feel bad about selling your breast milk if that is what you want to do. Plus, I have talked to many moms who have said that they would gladly pay for breast milk when they need it, because they know how hard it is to do and how valuable a mother’s time is.
Is it ethical to sell breast milk to bodybuilders online?
Some bodybuilders drink donor breast milk because of the high protein, calories, and fat in it. The ethics of selling breast milk to bodybuilders is personal, and some believe it’s an acceptable and mutually beneficial arrangement as long as both parties consent (the mother and the bodybuilder that is), but other people may find it inappropriate. It’s really just a personal decision.
How to sell breast milk to bodybuilders?
To sell breast milk to bodybuilders, you can create a listing on breast milk classifieds sites and make sure your listing targets the bodybuilding community. You can also join specific forums or Facebook groups for bodybuilders and breastfeeding to connect with potential buyers. I did a quick search on Facebook and I found several Facebook groups that are all about selling breast milk to bodybuilders, so that is probably a good place to start if you are interested.
Where can I find milk banks near me?
To find milk banks near you, you can look for accredited milk banks through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). They have a directory on their website with a list of approved banks in North America. Also, you can check for local milk banks or lactation support groups in your area.
Where to sell breast milk online?
To sell breast milk online, you can use websites like Only the Breast. They help people who want to buy and sell. You can also put up ads on regular websites or join Facebook groups for this.
How To Sell Breast Milk – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to sell breast milk.
Selling breast milk is such a hot topic. I understand that pumping breast milk can be tough and finding time for it can be a challenge. It’s important to remember that your time is valuable, so don’t feel guilty about selling instead of donating your breast milk, if that’s something you choose to do.
There are many places to sell breast milk to as well, so you can actually make extra money doing this.
Have you ever thought about selling breast milk? What do you think about selling breast milk?
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