Salma Hayek breastfeeding a starving baby in Africa (video) - Would you do it? Is it safe?

February 11, 9:56 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Hayek breastfeeding the baby in Africa Souce: Nightline

Would you share your breast milk with a starving child?

Salma Hayek did while traveling with crews of Nightline to bring publicity to the need for tetanus shots in developing countries like Sierra Leone. The story aired recently on Nighline.

"To most people in the United States, tetanus brings to mind rusty nails and a quick trip to the doctor's office for a shot. But in developing countries like Sierra Leone, maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) is a top cause of death among mothers and their babies," according to Nightline.

While on the trip Hayek was introduced to a tiny baby who was malnourished. Hayek who was still breastfeeding her daughter Valentina at the time, decided to help the baby by sharing breastmilk and breastffeding right on the spot. Here's a clip of the story from Nightline:

Sharing breastmilk is not a new concept. People have been doing it for years, like wetnurses,  and there have even been recent spikes in moms breastfeeding for friends and family. But it is something discouraged by Le Leche League.

According to a newstory by KGO:

Although breast milk is the perfect food for babies, sharing breast milk could be risky and organizations such as the La Leche League discourage this practice. Breast milk is, after all, a body fluid, so sharing it, can be risky. Infections can pass through the milk, as well as some medications.

And, with some infections, most people don't know they have them, and yet they could pass a dangerous infection like hepatitis, HIV, and others through the milk. 

But there are safe ways to share breastmilk... by donating milk to milk banks that screen the milk before sharing it. You can find more info on that if you're interested in participating from the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.