https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 11:51:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-talk-about-pumping#post-2912697 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 14:01:34 +0000 Clementine12 2912697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette excellent point since pumping is the worst. Guess I'll think about the math of that and see when it will become an option! Hoping she's on breast milk for a year then she can bf as long as she wants after but I wont be pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-talk-about-pumping#post-2912695 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:56:02 +0000 petitenoisette 2912695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How long are you hoping to provide pumped milk for? I would determine how many months you need to pump for and if you want to be able to stop pumping early or just account for decreased output like you said. Honestly, if I were you I would probably be more concerned with cutting down the number of pumps a day and in a few months if you don’t find you need your stash at all then maybe consider donating. It’s very nice of you to consider either way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-talk-about-pumping#post-2912692 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:24:35 +0000 Clementine12 2912692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a low supply with DD1. We supplemented at 6 mos and I was pumping maybe 6 oz/day by the end of it. I planned to be more intentional about my supply with DD2 (starting to pump earlier and on a schedule, being better about pumping at work on a schedule) and I have been successful - I built up a big stash during mat leave and now I'm back at work full time and adding to the stash daily instead of depleting it.</p> <p>I want to keep a stash since i know my supply will drop when my cycle returns and when DD starts sleeping more at night. However it's been on my mind lately with the general craziness of our world to see if I can donate breast milk.</p> <p>Wondering how much of a stash would you be comfortable keeping before donating milk?</p> <p>DD2 is 3 mo and i leave 16 oz/day which is a bit more than she will take. I pump 5 times/day (on the way to work, 3 times at work, once 2 hours after she goes down for the night) and have been getting about 20 oz/day. I bf and pump at night when I am home with her - adding 5 oz to the stash/day. Baby gets oldest frozen milk on Mondays and fresh milk every other day.</p> <p>Have you ever donated? What is the process like? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892576 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 15:36:18 +0000 AB810 2892576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally would. Every one of my friends who had babies at the same time as me ended up feeding their babies some of my milk because I had an over supply. I didn't feel weird when any of them asked. I also was in a wedding when my first was like 3 weeks old and would have let me friend who was also nursing feed my baby if she got fussy, so I think I'm pretty relaxed about the whole thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892491 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:33:55 +0000 MrsSRS 2892491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When it comes to asking I think it just depends on her personality and your relationship. I personally would be fine with someone saying, "I heard you say you aren't using your freezer stash. Do you have a plan for it? Because if you don't have plans to use or donate it to a milk bank feel free to send it my way! I'm struggling to build a stash." </p> <p>But the reason I'd be fine with this is my personality would have no problem just saying no if I didn't want to give it away. Someone who is less confrontational might not do so well with that approach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892474 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 13:00:49 +0000 pachamama 2892474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow I didn't think this was that common! Yeah I guess she hasn't offered and would probably think it's weird because she's not really like...an open person. You can't blame her! Maybe if she offers. I actually forgot her son is only 10 months old so she might work through the milk </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892444 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 10:50:11 +0000 Tionn3 2892444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've only ever given to Mother's Milk Bank, but I have offered it to friends if they needed it because I was overproducing and just needed to get rid of it. I also had paper work to prove that I didn't have any pathogens that could be spread through breast milk. I don't think it is weird at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892440 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 10:37:52 +0000 LAZB 2892440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve donated milk before, and if I really needed it I would ask a close friend or sister for milk, I don’t really think it’s weird </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892433 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 09:43:16 +0000 MrsSRS 2892433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a freezer of milk I couldn't use and gave it to two cousins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892430 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 09:00:49 +0000 Fawn 2892430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont think its weird, and I bet she would be happy to help out!</p> <p>I thought about this recently as I have an almost 12 week old DD. I nursed for 6 weeks and am exclusively pumping now. I'm so grateful to be building up a nice freezer stash, but if/when my supply drops I plan to use formula. I never had a strong preference for breastmilk over formula though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892423 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:46:18 +0000 DesertDreams88 2892423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope not strange </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892421 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:40:59 +0000 MrsSCB 2892421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I would be more comfortable giving formula. ETA: to clarify, though, I don't think it's "weird" or "gross," because breastmilk isn't weird or gross in general! I'd be comfortable with someone else's milk from a milk bank or a hospital, but for a one-off like this, I'd feel safer using formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892418 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:22:43 +0000 graceandjoy 2892418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally did not give away or take from someone else, but it's not strange at all! My over-producing friend gave tons of her milk to another friend of ours with twins. Another friend of mine also gives to a friend plus donating to milk bank. I think it's great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892409 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 07:21:05 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2892409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t think it’s weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892408 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 07:19:21 +0000 erinbaderin 2892408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't have a problem giving my baby somebody else's breastmilk. I would probably have a problem asking somebody else for their breastmilk, but if she mentioned that I don't think it would be weird. Maybe don't do it in person just in case she's put off - I feel like it would be easier to decline over email. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892405 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:44:22 +0000 ALV91711 2892405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If she has a bunch that she isn’t using and you could use it why not? I’d ask. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892403 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:43:12 +0000 Mrskerch2 2892403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to extend our BF by months thanks to a kind, extra producing friend. It was amazingly generous and worked beautifully for our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892402 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:38:08 +0000 Foodnerd81 2892402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t know that I would ask if she hadn’t offered. But if she offered I would have no problem using it assuming I trusted her. I would feel a lot weirder about someone else actually breastfeeding the baby directly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892401 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:36:06 +0000 catgirl 2892401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave thousands of ounces to DH's step sister for her son. He was a few months older than my DD. I knew they were using donor milk so I offered it to her and she was so appreciative. There was nothing weird about it for either or us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892400 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:33:03 +0000 pachamama 2892400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: yeah, right?! But I was kinda thinking....why is it weird? like what if there was an industry where you could just buy breast milk off the shelves, like formula?</p> <p> my friend's baby started crying and instinctively I literally almost pulled my shirt up to feed him! That was weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892399 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:29:08 +0000 gotkimchi 2892399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister fed my baby her breastmilk. We had babies the same age, he was hungry, I didn’t have any milk there so 🤷‍♀️ It’s kind of squicky to think about but I think it’s totally fine </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-give-your-baby-a-friends-breastmilk#post-2892398 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:23:37 +0000 pachamama 2892398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know how this will be received, but I was thinking of asking my step-sister for a few (dozen?) ounces. I'm not producing a ton and I really need a freezer stash for a weekend away. She told me she has a freezer full that she doesn't use anymore.<br /> Is this is totally weird and gross or normal? Would you do it? I'm kind of scared to ask her, she'd prob be weirded out, but just wondering what you think 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2881296 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 09:12:33 +0000 mrswin 2881296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Hahaha that’s too funny that he backed away :silly:<br /> The metallic smell/taste is high lipase but instead of soapy it can smell or taste metallic </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2881288 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:55:56 +0000 mediagirl 2881288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: sorry, life got in the way of coming back to this. :) Thankfully I haven't had to provide frozen milk for the rest of the week. </p> <p>My husband and I are soooo squeamish about tasting the milk. I hate milk in general and when I asked him if he would taste it, he just stared at me and slowly backed out of the room.... :silly: </p> <p>@Mamaof2: a friend of mine mentioned this, as well.</p> <p>So, the baby drank the last bottle. Not sure if she was just starving and had to or if it tasted differently. But, I will say I smelled the bottles when I got home and they had a slight metallic smell to them. @mrswin: any clue what that metallic smell is from?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2881283 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 08:35:30 +0000 Mamaof2 2881283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: @bhbee: agree , you need to taste it - I had high lipase with both kids and had to scald my milk before freezing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2881178 Wed, 17 Apr 2019 16:09:51 +0000 mrswin 2881178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: How’s it going? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2880855 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:18:13 +0000 mrswin 2880855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Also once she got into the routine of regular bottles he was able to mix a little of the frozen milk that I had stashed before we realized the lipase issue in with fresh and she would take it so I didn’t have to dump what I had stashed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2880854 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:16:27 +0000 mrswin 2880854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I am so sorry to hear this but I wanted to log in and reply because I was in this exact situation. My milk didn’t smell or taste soapy... it tasted METALLIC according to my SO. I couldn’t detect the metallic taste but it was obvious for him.<br /> My DD would drink my pumped milk fresh (up to 3 or 4 days in the fridge but would refuse all frozen milk.<br /> What we ended up doing was using Monday’s pumped milk for Tuesday’s feeds, etc. We would scald and freeze Friday’s milk to be used on Monday. It was a PITA but once we got it figured out it wasn’t so bad </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2880850 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:59:34 +0000 bhbee 2880850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you taste it? May feel a bit weird but I think that tells you more than smell if something is off due to lipase or the like.</p> <p>Also if it’s an option I’d try mixing with fresh to cover up any differences in taste. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-wont-drink-thawed-frozen-breastmilk#post-2880849 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:52:03 +0000 mediagirl 2880849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DillonLion: same as it always is - he heats the bottles up in the bottle warmer for the same amount of time each time and then checks them before feeding. </p>