https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 06:21:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2859221 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 01:09:13 +0000 DesertDreams88 2859221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: she got one bottle of formula a day starting at 5 month, then 2 at about 7.5 months, and now at 9 months I have completely given up. It got so depressing and was such a time suck. LO doesn't even like to nurse when I am home. </p> <p>Meanwhile my almost-3-yr-old still nurses 5 min a day. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2859208 Thu, 29 Nov 2018 21:37:19 +0000 avivoca 2859208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: How much has your supply tanked? I started supplementing at 9 months with DD2 and only needed one can of formula per month. I was able to make up 2/3 of what she needed, and I mixed BM and formula for her bottles (she refused straight formula). At least one bottle a day was 3 oz. formula, 1 oz. breast milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2859142 Thu, 29 Nov 2018 15:41:10 +0000 Mrsbells 2859142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I haven't used donated milk. In the past I have supplemented with formula when needed and will rather give fornula over donated milk because I over think evrything </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858947 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 22:48:49 +0000 Anagram 2858947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I donated, 3-4 times, also through HMHB on FB. I had a huge oversupply and didn’t want to buy an entire separate freezer because I live in a small condo. I literally filled my entire freezer and had no space for food. I think I donated around 300 oz each time. </p> <p>I wrote in my description that I drink 1-2 cups of coffee a day and was taking a Zantac daily. Every time I posted, I would have dozens of responses. </p> <p>The only slightly awkward thing—and I don’t actually think it’s awkward, I just wonder if they thought it was awkward—is that I donated to someone local who ended up being super local and we ran into each other at the park and stuff all the time and it was always like, “oh hey, good to see you again, I’m the one that donated breast milk to your baby” or whatever. Or like one time the woman’s husband was with her for the first time and he was like “where do you two know each other from? and I was like oh, I donated my breast milk to you all. And then I felt odd, like it’s such a taboo to talk about breast milk in public. </p> <p>But anyway, for me it was great—I even donate when I traveled to my mom in Georgia for vacay, because I always produced more than my kiddo could drink. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858927 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:58:02 +0000 pinkcupcake 2858927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I have not used donated breast milk and I would not. The risks are just not worth it for me. I would rather use formula at 9 Months. You can get huge containers at Costco for $20. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858926 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:57:28 +0000 DesertDreams88 2858926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: hmmm I see what you are saying!</p> <p>I guess I also feel like my kid is exposed to a bunch of germs at this point soooo..... the contamination part doesn't worry me AS much. But again, I do hear what you are all saying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858921 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:50:37 +0000 LBee 2858921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: for me personally it’s similar to buying a car seat off Craigslist. It’s cheaper and would save me money, but I’m too high anxiety to do it. What if they didn’t wash it properly? What if it was in an accident? In the end I would just be a hot mess. In the same analogy, I would borrow from a friend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858916 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:31:23 +0000 DesertDreams88 2858916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly everyone, I'm just cheap. Hah. Formula is expensive compared to free. Everyone makes their own value choices and I need to weigh my options. I'm rethinking it - this thread started up pro, and then went con. Nutritionally, I think **frozen** breastmilk is pretty much the same as formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858913 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:12:08 +0000 JJ2626 2858913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it, and I chose to formula feed when nursing didn’t work out for me. Formula is safe and regulated and the benefits of breastmilk are marginal. Especially if your LO already got 9 months of breastmilk. That’s awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858879 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 14:44:38 +0000 periwinklebee 2858879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Yeah, I suspect that there is some bad selection into the online platforms (not the majority but high enough to give pause) - i.e. people who use the online platform because they are not eligible for the milk bank or because they don't realize until the milk is getting old that their LO won't be able to use it. Combine that with spoilage in transit and the fact that not everyone is sanitary about pumping or freezing it right away...and it's easy to see how 10% or more could have high enough bacteria levels to be harmful... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858865 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:53:12 +0000 LCTBQE 2858865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: wow, this is so bad that it gives me pause about donating and freaks me out about even giving my OWN milk to my daughter. I do wonder how the milk being for sale (vs given for free) affects the sample quality. But sheesh, those are pretty bad numbers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858852 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:16:44 +0000 jape14 2858852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For what it's worth, I don't have any sort of anxiety issues, health or otherwise, and I wouldn't feel comfortable using unscreened donor milk if formula was a viable option (e.g., barring any dietary issues, etc). </p> <p>I have given away/gotten unopened formula on my local facebook BST and I'm way more comfortable with that option (sealed packages, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858844 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:06:14 +0000 peachykeen 2858844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would accept from a close friend or relative (and have offered my extra milk to friends in need) but probably not unscreened milk from a stranger. At 9 months, I would feel most comfortable supplementing with formula. In fact, that's exactly when I started supplementing with DD1. We used Baby's Only Organic and Hipp from Europe (I think it's easier to buy online these days) to more closely simulate breastmilk consistency. If baby were a preemie or newborn, I would feel comfortable taking milk from NICU/milk bank, but at 9 months I'd personally feel the risks outweigh the benefits unless I didn't have other options due to dietary issues or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858839 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 12:52:42 +0000 LBee 2858839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to come back to say that while I am a donor (and am accurately presenting myself) when I thought more about it I realized I would not accept donor milk unless it was provided by a medical professional (our NICU does). The risks are not worth it to me. It is incredibly easy to lie and/or forget something that might be relevant. You also have no idea how well they stored it or if they abided by proper handling techniques. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858837 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 12:49:20 +0000 periwinklebee 2858837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Look into the data and really think about whether your comfortable with the risks relative to the benefits it has for your family... <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/5/e1227" rel="nofollow">http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/5/e1227</a></p> <p>In this study, 10% of samples were contaminated with dangerously high levels of staph. Some had high levels of strep and salmonella. 74% would have failed the criteria for donation to a milk bank. You also run a granted small risk of contamination with HIV and other serious diseases. There's a reason why AAP, CDC, FDC, etc all strongly recommend against internet milk sharing. Risks are lower when time in transit is low, but still very real. </p> <p>One of my fears is LO accidentally gets given the wrong bottle at daycare, as you just never know. I know someone who's LO was accidentally given breastmilk of an HIV positive mother. He ended up not being infected, but it caused an enormous amount of stress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858836 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 12:47:42 +0000 LCTBQE 2858836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm looking into donating part of my stash, probably through HM4MB because I don't have that much to give and so don't want to go through the paperwork of a bank--but wanted to say if someone asks me about my medications/health/alcohol use I won't be offended in the least. I also have trouble imagining someone being dishonest who's going through the trouble of donating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858832 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 12:42:41 +0000 daniellemybelle 2858832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's so awesome but my anxiety could not have handled accepting milk from a stranger. I always hoped a friend or family member would offer us milk but none ever did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858820 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 12:02:50 +0000 QBbride 2858820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve donated to others using HM4HB. I think it’s a great service. Yes, there is always a risk to unpasteurized donor milk. BUT I feel if they’re willing to give that milk to their baby... it’s probably OK. You can ask mom if she’s had any recent bloodwork done and she should disclose to you if she’s on any medications etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858819 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 11:58:03 +0000 mfa_lady 2858819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others, I haven't used donated breast milk but I have donated! I donated to a milk bank and also to a local mom who had a baby via surrogate. I agree with the commenters who say figure out what you're comfortable with and have an honest conversation with the mom to get your questions answered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858804 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 11:02:36 +0000 maddyz 2858804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I donated a lot of milk but it was always to people who I knew a little or were friends of friends. I was sure to be clear about my diet and food handling practices. I would chat with the mom and see how you feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858785 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 10:07:59 +0000 LBee 2858785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've donated if that helps! I think most moms are pretty good people and are donating because they either have over supply or their LO can't (or won't) drink it. I would personally ask if she's on any medication, but other than that I'd assume it's perfectly fine.</p> <p>ETA: With that said, I don't think you are being irrational. Things that I might think are fine (taking Zoloft, for example) other parents might be against. Also, I'm comfortable drinking while breastfeeding / pumping. Many parents aren't. I've also treated mastitis and thrush. There are just a lot of dynamic you need to think through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858783 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 10:00:37 +0000 MamaBear87 2858783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't but have friends who have and friends who have donated. I'd go with your gut on how you feel about the other mom. Just talking to her should give you a good feel that she's coming from the right place. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-used-donated-breastmilk#post-2858767 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 09:25:09 +0000 DesertDreams88 2858767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 9 months and my supply had tanked. I joined the HM4HB group for my local area and a local (seemingly young, new) mom offered 100 frozen ounces. I am supposed to pick up on Saturday. I have a history of health anxiety for my littles, but I am now medicated for it and doing much better. I have some hesistancies about donated breastmilk but I think I'm being irrational. </p> <p>Have you used donated breastmilk? What was your experience like? </p>