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From my sister, sure!
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I am so glad there are such overwhelming positive responses. I donated milk because I had a great supply and my baby never took much pumped milk. I donated to some lady I met on a local Facebook moms group. People I knew thought it was odd, particularly coworkers. I am a pediatric nurse and my fellow nurses were actually surprised anyone would want to use someone else breast milk! Like couldn't think of a single reason.
Then my cousin recently had a baby and had some issues with her supply at first mainly because baby couldn't latch. I asked her someone hesitantly if she would ever want some of my extra and by that point her milk supply had come in well and she wasn't needing any more formula. It seemed odd to me that I felt so shy about offering my milk to a close family member when this random lady I met online would use my milk in a heartbeat!
Eta I would definitely be open to donated milk from a close friend or family member for my baby if I were in the opposite position.
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Absolutely. I think it's strange when you see people responding negatively to the idea of feeding a stranger's baby or accepting a stranger's breastmilk. It isn't any more dangerous than swapping any other bodily fluids with someone, and I doubt most people have asked every romantic partner in their lives to get a full STD panel prior to hooking up. (Props to anybody who has done that though!)
And to the other part of your question, absolutely it's fine to have a long-term relationship with a milk donor, it definitely isn't just for NICU babies or other short-term situations. I know someone who donates every single week to a mom who adopted her baby. It's great to have that ongoing setup.
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Why would it be gross? We drink cow milk and goat milk!
I would definitely be ok with it from a trusted source, and if I had extra, I'd give it to a friend. I donated my milk when my son passed away, I would have been upset if it wasn't used. -
Yeahhhhhh.... no. I'll be the odd one out, I don't care.
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I think breastmilk is an amazing gift, especially for babies who don't tolerate formula.
I work in the NICU and we give (pasteurized) donor milk to many premature babies. I have given my extra milk to a mum I met through Human Milk 4 Human Babies.
I would absolutely give my milk to my sisters or friends if needed. And I would happily receive from them too!!
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Oh yeah, I'd definitely do it. I think it's great, and how lucky for you guys that it worked out that way!
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My sister had twins a few weeks after I had my son. She struggled to make enough when she had to return to work at 9w pp so I gave her my extra BM. I would certainly have taken hers if our situations were reversed.
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It's not weird to give your baby donated BM. Even better you know the source firsthand.
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I think it is wonderful. I'd totally take BM from a sister or SIL! I'd be happy to donate mine too!
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I gave milk to DH's sister for our nephew. I had a crazy over supply and was able to give almost 2,000oz before DD was 10 months old. DD refused bottles and I would have hated seeing the milk go to waste when there is someone who can benefit from it.
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I'm going to agree with @loveisstrange here to an extent. I don't think it's weird necessarily but I wouldn't go to the bother personally, but, this is also coming from someone who doesn't put a premium on breast milk in the way many seem to.
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I wouldn't take it from a stranger because I wouldn't feel comfortable not knowing their medical history or what they're putting into their body, but I wouldn't have an issue using my sisters. But like @Aimed121 I don't put a premium on breast milk so chances are I would probably pass on the offer anyway.
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@Aimed121: I didn't ask my sister if she had extra milk to give my babies. My sister was the one that offered. I know how breastmilk is considered liquid gold so I wouldn't ask. I would wait til it is offered.
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I don't think it's gross, but I also wouldn't bother to do it regularly. A few bags to have on hand for stomach bug days would be great. But I'd just switch to formula instead of the hassle of transporting breastmilk regularly.
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@bluestriped bee: Oh no - I think I came across wrong! I'm sure you're sister is delighted to contribute! If it works for you, that's great, I would also trust my sister completely in this situation but I just wouldn't bother as I'd be as happy with formula - but I realize that many wouldn't feel the same way!
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I think it's awesome! I didn't feel comfortable using donor milk from strangers but I always wished a friend or family member would have offered me breast milk when LO was a baby and I had low supply.
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@Aimed121: oh ok. I understand. Yeah, I'm happy with formula, too, but I guess my sister knew how I struggled to BF and pump. So it was great of her to offer.
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I think it's awesome! I've given milk to a close friend, and I'd absolutely do it again!
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Saw this posted on FB and thought it was appropriate for this thread
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@Aimed121: This is where Im coming from too. I doesn't really matter enough to me to make me want to bother. It's not because I think it's weird or gross.
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@bluestriped bee: I think it's awesome!
I follow a twin mom on Instagram and she had nursing friends come nurse her babies with her in the hospital so they didn't lose too much weight while she got her supply in! Thought that was pretty cool!
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Absolutely! I shared mine with my sister and a close friend (just once or twice). My LO wasn't eating it and they both needed it.
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Absolutely. I had a friend who offered to pump for my baby, when I had breastfeeding failure. It was the most wonderful gift. While I wouldn't give milk from a stranger (personal choice), I would absolutely accept milk from my sister or a friend.
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So awesome! I donated my oversupply and would happily take it, if I were offered it. Such a gift!
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I don't find it gross or strange or anything because people donate breastmilk all the time and that is awesome!
I just don't care enough about breast milk over formula to bother. I would just switch to formula (which is what I did when EPing was not working out).
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Totally awesome and I'd totally do it!
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Yes, and I imagine I would be so overcome with gratitude that tears would be involved. But I'd only be concerned about it for the early days, then I'd move on to something else.
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@bluestriped bee: I think it's great! I'm on ff baby #2, but really wanted to bf this one. I don't know that it would make much difference to how I feel only because part of it was wanting to protect lo from big sister's illnesses and the other part was a personal goal, but I didn't even really get to try. I don't actually feel *guilty* about it this time around. But it'd be nice, especially free!!!
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No sister, but I absolutely would accept/donate!
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@Truth Bombs: thank you for that, it is absolutely true and we need to work to change that.
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Sure, from someone I know. My best friend adopted a nicu preemie who is 5 days younger than LO. I ended up giving her my freezer stash, and pumping occasionally for her for a few months.
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I had trouble getting my supply started. .I wonder if I would have been open to this if a friend had offered at the time. I know I was heartbroken that we had to supplement with formula at first.
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Sister, friend, or pasterized donor milk isn't weird to me. I think that's no big deal. But otherwise, no. But I don't think of breast milk as some ultra precious commodity where formula is simply an unacceptable option. I think in the case of preemies with immature guts, it's a whole other ballgame
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