I just made my first donation of 285 oz! I cried when I dropped it off because I know of so many babies in the NICU that have benefited from donor human milk. Hopefully I will be able to donate more in the future. The process to become a donor was a pain, but I'm so glad I did. Any other donors out there?
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I tried to donate once but it was rejected because I took a med for inflammation in my wrist.
Great job!!!
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@mrs. 64: I did! I EP'd for a whole year, and started donating at about the 5 or 6 month mark. At the end they sent me a little card saying how much milk I had donated, it was nearly 5000 oz!! Every time I dropped off a cooler filled with milk the lady who distributes for my bank was so, so thrilled with how much I brought! My bank also gives the recipients the opportunity to send thank-you letters to donors. It was so awesome getting random cards in the mail of a cute little baby that was all smiles, and parents so appreciative of the gift they recieved. It made me excited to hopefuly be able to donate again with my next baby!
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i wanted to donate to a milk bank, but there were so many rules that i donated through a facebook group called Human Milk for Human Babies...i will do it again if i can!
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What a wonderful gift you have given!
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Way to go!!
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@mrs. 64: good job! I've donated over 2,000oz, still have more in the freezer to mail off
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@mrs. 64: I donated a little over 3000 oz by the end of my year of EP. They sent me monthly email newsletters and everytime I'd get discouraged or annoyed at pumping, I would remember their tag line, "babies live because you give."
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I have no idea how much it was, but I donated a few times after my son was born. He never took my milk in a bottle (I have high lipase), but the milk bank said that was no problem! So they pretty much got it all. After about 7 or 8 months, there was really no point in pumping for my guy, so I pumped just for the milk bank for awhile. Then I had to go on an antibiotic, at which point they won't take your milk, and I didn't keep up with the pumping to be able to donate afterward. I'll try to do the same with my next kiddo as well.
They must opened a local milk bank as well, and they actually used some of my "bad" milk from antibiotic time to do their test batches, so I was glad it didn't go to waste. Next time I'll be able to donate locally instead of shipping 6 states away, so I'm excited!
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Such a wonderful thing to do! The baby we shared a room with in the hospital was a preemie just released from the NICU and her mom explained to me how important breastmilk was for her. That is so so amazing that you were able to do that!
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@mrs. 64: congratulations and I'm sure those kids out there who get to use that milk are very, very thankful, as well.
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I scrape the bottom of the barrel to feed my son at daycare everyday or I would love love love to. My little sister was a NICU baby for 3 months so i have a bleeding heart for NICU babies.
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What an amazing thing to do, good on you!
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That is so awesome! Way to go!
I'd def keep this mind if I am able to breastfeed, pump have leftovers!
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I just wanted to say how absolutely wonderful I think you all are donating your milk. I didn't produce enough to donate, but would've loved to. My SIL gave my adopted nephew 100% breast milk since the day he was born until he was 1, because of donors like you. Simply amazing. Way to go!
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@autumnlove: Yes they are super strict. I was on antibiotics and they wouldn't except my milk for two weeks after I had finished taking them.
@cheesehead: @beaker: @aegie: Wow I am so impressed with all of you! That is amazing!
@cheesehead: That's so cool that you were able to see pictures of some of the babies that received your milk! I'm sure that was really inspiring.
@Jess1483: That's great! Our local bank opened the week my daughter was born. It is so easy to drop it off and I love knowing that babies in our community are recipients.
@Mrs. Rabbit: That's awesome!
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Good for you, lady!
I've donated, but to a local mom. I did 100 oz the first time and have another 150 oz to give her now. It feels awesome to be able to help another baby!
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That's awesome!!
I'm working with a regional bank to donate and should finally be able to open up some room in my freezer soon! Looking forward to being able to provide for preemies in our area
Especially since I am now on an elimination diet for A and can't even give her the huge freezer stash I have anymore.
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I did. I pumped the entire time my son was in the nicu, and he couldn't eat for most of the time (was given nutrients other ways instead). When he passed away, I donated the milk. It made me feel good that I wasn't just wasting my time each time I had pumped, and that lots of other babies could use it.
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@LovelyPlum: Cool!
@littleredhairedgrl: That stinks that A can't use your freezer stash. I hear you on clearing up room in your freezer. We have our fridge freezer, a chest freezer, and a 5 ft tall freezer completely full of milk! I had to call the milk bank and beg for them to expedite my application because I completely ran out of room.
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@LAZB: I know that must have been hard. What a sweet way to honor your son.
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@littleredhairedgrl: that is why I had to donate too-once for dairy, once for soy.
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@LAZB: what an amazing thing you did
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That's fantastic! Congrats! What a great gift.
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This is so amazing. For those of you with such a high supply, did you do anything special to have so much milk? I would be more than happy to have an oversupply so I could donate.
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I am considering donating what I have frozen. E loves nursing and won't take a bottle at all. However part of me is worried one day I will dry up and he won't have any milk.
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I have milk I need to donate as well, but we aren't near any milk banks, so I'll probably do it through facebook. Anyone have experience with that? I feel a little weird about it, although it's definitely just me.
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@gilmoregirl: I used the HM4HB group because I had just a little amount once. I got many replies and the milk was picked up within 24hrs of posting. The mom did ask to see my blood work results for HIV and Hep.
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I haven't yet, but I hope to since I know how much preemie moms appreciate it.
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I donated informally to a gay couple who wanted breast milk for their child.
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