A 22-year-old new mother wanted to hit two birds with one stone but health authorities got in the way of her plans.

Martha Heller tried to sell 100 ounces (2.8 liters) of her breast milk for $200 or to the highest bidder and even posted a newspaper ad to entice buyers. In the end, health authorities took notice and her milk ended up in the University of Iowa's Mother's Milk Bank.

Iowa does not have laws regulating sale of breast milk but health officials do not encourage the trade.

Heller gave birth to a baby daughter four months ago. Her breasts were always full but since her daughter refused to drink from a bottle, she was forced to pump her breast milk. This has been a ritual since August and nearly three months later, her freezer was overflowing with breast milk.

The 2.8 liters of milk initially up for sale were not properly screened and could no longer be donated.

Experts say breast milk stored for as long as six months in a freezer are still safe to drink.

When asked if there Cedar Rapids mothers came knocking on her door to buy her milk, Heller said there were no serious buyers.