Happy Friday: Giving Back By Donating Milk
Sent from reader, Megan:
Our 3rd baby boy was born 2.5 months early in November. In spite of all that we went through over the course of his 11 weeks in the NICU, we are so blessed to have him. I breastfed my other 2 boys and wanted to provide this new little miracle with the same start, so I began pumping as soon as possible after the emergency c-section. At first the baby was on IV nourishment and when he started getting my milk through an oral-gastric tube it was less than a teaspoon each day.
Although I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t be able to establish an adequate milk supply using only a pump, I soon filled up the freezer at my house…and then the industrial size freezer in the NICU! When I realized that I would need somewhere to put all that milk when our baby was discharged, I began exploring options other than throwing it all away. My mom sent me a link to a milk bank in California that uses human milk to make a milk fortifier for premature babies in the NICU. I decided to go through the process of becoming a milk donor (blood testing, DNA profiling..etc) for the milk bank in California as well as for one in Texas and was able to donate over 1,621 ounces of milk that would have otherwise been tossed.
All costs were covered by the milk banks. The milk bank in California even sent me $300 for “breast pump reimbursement” and donated $1 to Make a Wish Foundation for every ounce that I donated. Being able to donate my excess milk helped me look outside of my own crisis as well as give me something to feel good about as I left the hospital day after day without my baby. I’m happy to report that my 3 lb 2 oz preemie has grown into my milk supply and now weighs close to 11 lbs!
HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀
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Thank you!
My daughter was also 2.5 months premature (born at 3 lbs 1 oz) and she needed donor milk until my milk came in and also used fortified milk for months.
Thank you!
Wow! What an awesome story & a blessing you are. Thank you for sharing & congrats on your little angel!
Everything about this just makes me smile! 😀
what an awesome thing you did. my youngest was also a preemie and spent some time in the NICU. it was a very scary and stressful time in my life. thankfully today he is a healthy and happy 16 month old. thank you for your amazing gift. 🙂
What an amazing woman! Because of her gift so many woman and babies will be blessed. Super Woman in my book!
This is amazing… My son was born a month earliest but he has two knots in his cord and came out 4.8oz! I pumped as well the whole time he was in the nicu but did not get even close to what she has..OMG that is just amazing.. My son also used human milk fortifier for the first 2 months… And I am happy to report that my now 5 month old is a healthy 14+lb … Thank you for donating!!! It will help a lot of other little babies like mine to grow big and strong.. Thank you!!!
I donate milk, but I do it locally through a Facebook group called “eats on feets.” The families I donate to have babies that they have adopted, so it’s donated milk or formula. No, there aren’t all of the safeguards in place that there would be if I went through a donor bank, but the moms know that I’m feeding my baby the same milk I’m giving them. Also, it’s free for everyone! Thanks for bringing this issue out into the open, Collin. Hopefully if people keep talking about it, milk sharing will be looked at more positively : )
Thanks for letting me know about “eats on feets”!!! I have been looking to donate, but found the process to be overwhelming with a newborn in my home!
Love Eats on Feets and HM4HB (human milk for human babies). We are currently using donor milk with our 2 week old, and I am so grateful for moms that are willing to share!
Wow! What a beautiful story!
Such a great story! And such a blessing to many! Congrats on your healthy baby! 🙂
You’re amazing! What a great story to share on here–we women have to stick together! This is one example of just that–you helping out so many other mothers who can’t provide that to their babies. So proud of your example!
I love this story – amazing.
WOW!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this donation! Wishing you many blessings to come=)
That’s amazing Megan!!!! ♥
Wow what an amazing story! It made me smile and restored my faith in humanity. You are a great woman Megan!
what an amazing story!
Thank you for sharing I have never heard of these types of programs but am glad to hear they exist and help so many. Blessings
Great story. I love to hear of unique ways that good people help others. The only problem is that insurance won’t pay for breastmilk. Even from the milk banks it is $4 or more an ounce. That is really expensive. I would love to see an organization that would supplement the cost or provide it free for preemies.
Love this!! What a an awesome way to turn the negative of your situation into a positive. Maybe its because I”m pregnant, but your story made me cry. God bless you and your baby!
Wonderful Story. Such a great thing you did and so glad your LO is growing and thriving 🙂 You’re truly a blessing.
It made me cry too, and I’m way past the pregnant years, but will soon be a grandma. Just thinking about the baby coming early makes me upset. Thank you so much for your dedication and gift! It is so heartwarming to hear about all the babies that relied on this nutrition and are thriving!
This is amazing.
Awesome story. I too filled up a freezer at a NICU when my son was born a preemie over 19 years ago. Wish they had milk banks back then.
That’s awesome.
This is awesome.
What a amazing story! Made me smile and totally made my day. Thanks!! 🙂
Collin, I check your site everyday for deals and bargains, but this post brought tears to my eyes. My son was born 13 weeks early three years ago, and I pumped thousands of ounces of milk that fed him for his first year. My daughter was born 10 weeks early in January, and I hoped I could do the same for her. I filled my deep freezer with breast milk, and she was able to take small amounts for her first two months. Unfortunately, she has recently developed both dairy and soy allergies and is unable to eat the thousands of ounces of frozen milk, and I have been so upset about what to do with it. Your post has given me hope that I can donate it. Thank you!
Amazing I was never that healthy at producing milk! It is good to know that there mommy’s out there that are willing to share!
God bless u , going through such rough phase still having the patience to donate …….I must say u have a gr8 heart and ur a wonderful mother!!Thanx Collin for such wonderful Happy Friday story .
God Bless you for taking so much effort to be so giving.
This is awesome, you are going to be a blessing to so many people =)
What a wonderful story!!!! This has to be my favorite one yet!!!
You are very generous. I believe breastfeeding took a toll on my body, since I didn’t have time to take care of or feed myself properly – what new mom really does?! When I think back to what I viewed as a sacrifice, I can’t imagine giving away all that gold!
I had breast cancer 2 years ago and had to have a double mastectomy. We are hoping to be able to have a baby in 3 and 1/2 years when I can go off my medicine. I have been feeling sad that I was able to breast feed both of my other children but won’t be able to in the future. Does anyone know of anything available for mothers in my situation?
You should look into HM4HB (human milk for human babies) and eats on feet. It’s direct mom to mom milk sharing and is free. Also if you have a friend that is currently breastfeeding perhaps she would donate milk. I gave all my pumped milk (as did a close friend of mine) to my sister to supplement her supply.
thanks so much for the info!!!
I donated through Milkin’ Mamas in CA after my son had a 3 month hosipal stay. They are great to work with! I encourage everyone to check it out. It is so easy… It looks like the person from this picutre used the same organization. It is run by two sisters.
I knew what was in the pic as soon as I saw it!!! 😉 I had an ample supply with my now 4 year old daughter and discovered the National Milk Bank through an online search. I only donated 1 cooler full, but it is such a great feeling! I am now nursing our almost 1 year old twins and hope to be able to pump and donate again as they begin to wean.
god bless you ! that’s very awesome of you
I am also a donor momma. I go through a FB group Human Milk for Human Babies. It’s similar to eats and feets, just moms sharing milk, no fees, no tests, no middle man making any money!
For moms who have extra milk, it’s a wonderful, wonderful blessing to another family to donate it. For moms who can’t breastfeed for whatever reason, please look into donor milk. It is far safer and healthier for your baby than any man made formula. I donate all my milk for free, sometimes asking for milk storage bags in return. You can message me if you have any questions.
What a wonderful story. Bless you for what you have done.
My favorite friday story yet!
When my newborn was in the hospital, the hospital gave me a Medela and told me if I pumped, I would get my meals for free and I gave my milk to other babies there 🙂
Thats awesome that they used your milk for other babies!! Did they process it first or did it go from you directly to baby? I would love to pump and donate directly to the NICU and avoid any processing of the milk.
Wonderful story! My son (now 19) was 10 weeks early and I threw out so much milk in those early weeks — wish I had done something like this! Wonderful – kudos to you.
Thank you for sharing this generous, loving, beautiful, most-beneficial experience and pictures. We’re expecting soon and our little guy has spina bifida, so we’ll be spending time in NICU very soon. I’m planning to breastfeed our new little guy for at least 2yrs just like I did his older siblings, beginning with pumping for his initial tube feedings. Our hospital is awesome and gives all NICU babies breast milk – from their mother and/or donated breast milk. I love how supportive they are regarding the huge benefits of breast milk. Here are some links to a little info about them & also milk bank resources:
UI Children’s Hospital Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa : https://youtu.be/Tm7qUSBB2lg ,
Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa: https://www.uichildrens.org/mothers-milk-bank/ ,
Human Milk Banking of North America: https://www.hmbana.org/ ,
What to Look for in a NICU (nutrition): https://www.uichildrens.org/what-to-look-for-in-a-nicu/#nutritional
UPDATE 10/6/2015: Due to the extreme stress of the situation on top of C-section recovery, and few chances to latch due to his 5 surgeries in weeks, my breast milk production didn’t come close to meeting my son’s needs. How very truly grateful we were to have donor milk from the hospital! His surgeons and wound care nurse emphasized how essential breast milk alone is for optimal healing and growth. How important for our son considering his critical multiple surgeries, most of which were brain and spinal cord surgery. His surgical wounds healed well and he didn’t end up with too many complications. After a couple weeks at home and co-sleeping, I was finally able to meet his needs. He’s now a very healthy 2-year old. Thank you so much all you who donate breast milk!