Editorial: Unselfish acts for our babies

The collective's intentions have attracted the expected caution from health professionals around the small risk in sharing breast milk.

The Northland mums offering to share their breast milk with other children is the ultimate expression of love for a child.

And what's more, for a stranger's child.

About 30 mums have made the offer after this week's 1080 contamination scare. Some coward in an anonymous letter has threatened to poison baby formula with 1080 if the Government did not stop using it as pest control by the end of March.

Kelsie Brophy-Watts is at the head of the Northland movement and says she felt compelled to help mums who couldn't breastfeed.

"It was a bit scary thinking that if something were to happen to the formula then the babies might not be okay. Cow's milk isn't recommended until the age of one."

The collective's intentions have attracted the expected caution from health professionals around the small risk in sharing breast milk. Ultimately, it is the mother's choice and any discerning mum will be able to track the donor and make an informed choice. Elsewhere in New Zealand there are official breast milk banks, but in the absence of one in Northland, this group of mums should be applauded for their unselfish offer motivated by their love of kids.