Here's where I am conflicted.
Lately, many of the amazing women I know have been having babies, I've mentioned this before. And many of them have become HUGE proponents of breast feeding, which is also cool. The US Department of Health and Human Services has given funding to form and support a National Breastfeeding Campaign designed to help the average American both understand the benefits of breast feeding and also educate people on the hows, whens and whats of breast feeding. All good stuff.
I won't lie, I have a personal discomfort with breast feeding but I realize it is my own problem. I won't go too much into it because I know many people who read this could defeat me with logic in a hot second. My reaction isn't logical...La Leche League International has entire articles on how to deal with breast feeding haters, so I guess I'm not uncommon but let's move on.
I get the benefits of breast feeding and think all women who can and want to breast feed should. But lately, all of this good feeling about breast feeding has been exhibiting itself in some new and fascinating ways. By this, I mean the advent of products for consumption made from breast milk. From The Icecreamists in London who, in 2011 served breast milk ice cream to patrons (it sold out) to an NYU project that resulted in making breast milk cheese and Chef David Angerer's breast milk cheese , the use of breast milk has certainly morphed and the effects are polarizing.
Chef Angerer with his wife and child. For more on his opinion, read the blog he wrote about it. Interesting stuff.
Why have that when you can have this?
Lately, many of the amazing women I know have been having babies, I've mentioned this before. And many of them have become HUGE proponents of breast feeding, which is also cool. The US Department of Health and Human Services has given funding to form and support a National Breastfeeding Campaign designed to help the average American both understand the benefits of breast feeding and also educate people on the hows, whens and whats of breast feeding. All good stuff.
I won't lie, I have a personal discomfort with breast feeding but I realize it is my own problem. I won't go too much into it because I know many people who read this could defeat me with logic in a hot second. My reaction isn't logical...La Leche League International has entire articles on how to deal with breast feeding haters, so I guess I'm not uncommon but let's move on.
I get the benefits of breast feeding and think all women who can and want to breast feed should. But lately, all of this good feeling about breast feeding has been exhibiting itself in some new and fascinating ways. By this, I mean the advent of products for consumption made from breast milk. From The Icecreamists in London who, in 2011 served breast milk ice cream to patrons (it sold out) to an NYU project that resulted in making breast milk cheese and Chef David Angerer's breast milk cheese , the use of breast milk has certainly morphed and the effects are polarizing.
So, of course breast milk soap would be part of this, right? When I first saw mention of this phenomenon on Shecky's list of "Weirdest, Most WTF Beauty Products Ever" I thought this must be something that soapers are doing in their own homes to make use of what's extra. After all, you are what you eat, right? So maybe this soap is better for baby that Johnson's No More Tears.
Why have that when you can have this?
But no, I suppose it can be quite the moneymaking enterprise to sell breast milk soap. Etsy store Cahmille sells several different scents and varities of what soap maker Jessica calls "Mother's Milk Soap." You can even buy a really pretty sampler of scents from her here at a super reasonable proce if you are so inclined.
Another Etsy store, The Green Box, sells some REALLY unique flavors and the soaps are just gorgeous. Take a gander at the Healing Hemp natural Mother's Milk Soap.
If you'd like to do it yourself, there is a recipe here but I warn you to read these precautions.
I'm admittedly not a scientist but I cannot imagine that this is not without its issues. After all, many communicable diseases are spread through breast milk. I'm not sure I would want to buy Mother Milk soap but I think the idea is fascinating.
I'd love to hear from people from various parts of my life comment on their feelings on this matter? Has anyone tried the soap?
Food for thought on this Monday.
