Help me think this through, re: donating breast milk

rssnlvr

So, we've officially given up on DS taking a bottle. I have about 500 ounces of frozen BM in my stash in our deep freezer that I have no idea what I'm going to do with now. I pump once at work in the morning so that I don't have to go 5+ hours between feedings, and I pump once to empty before going to bed. That usually nets around 6ish ounces total every day.

Is there any reason you can think of that I'll want to keep some of my stash? What I'm pumping is plenty to cover the 3 ounces/day he uses in his breakfast oatmeal.

How do I go about donating breast milk? I know some organizations require blood work, etc., and won't take milk older than a certain number of months. Are all organizations like this? Any recommendations for places to start? 

Other ideas on what I possibly should/could do with all that milk? 

brideonjuly8

Have you tried sippys yet? Do you think he would eventually take it in a sippy?

rssnlvr

We've tried them, but right now he just chews. (:::kicks teething in the nuts:::)

I'm worried that by the time he's proficient with an alternative cup (sippy, straw, etc.), some of the milk will be too old? I know "they" say in a deep freezer it's fine for 6-12 months, but we usually stayed more on the 6-month end of that spectrum. Do you think it matters if we wait more toward the 12-month end?

Good point though...like, rather than starting cow milk at a year in a cup, we could just keep trying with BM....

kpowersw

Call the Mother's Milk Bank of Austin.  Their first time minimum donation is 150 oz so you can donate and still keep a stash.  I think when I donated with DS#2 the milk had to be less than three months old.  You have to get a blood test but other than that it's just collect and drop off, so pretty easy and such a great cause! 

RevJG

My sister had an infant with a dairy intolerance and so she had a ton of pumped milk he couldn't have (pumped when she was still consuming dairy).  She donated through the Mother's Milk Bank of Austin.  If I remember correctly, the minimum donation is 100 ounces and has to be free from any medication or herb.  Some of her milk had to be excluded because she had taken fenugreek.  You also have to take a blood test that the milk bank pays for.  I am sure they have a website.

kiarox2002

I would probably donate the oldest 100 or 150 ounces and keep the rest in hopes that he would drink it from a sippy cup eventually.

SaraLouiseBride08

kiarox2002:

I would probably donate the oldest 100 or 150 ounces and keep the rest in hopes that he would drink it from a sippy cup eventually.

This. We're trying to transition to whole milk, and so far the only way we can get her to drink it is by mixing breastmilk in. We've been 1 oz BM and 3 oz whole milk for a month now, and as soon as we cut that BM, she refuses to drink it. So you may want to have some on hand for sippy cup/whole milk transition days.

Keribells

Page Sundot- I know she did.

SareBear30

Could you use some of it with your DD? Would she drink it in a sippy or with her cereal/oatmeal? Or would that be silly because she is at such a different developmental age that it wouldn't be the right nutritional content for her?

clynn58

eats on feets is also another place you can donate.

felinity

There are some pretty informal methods of donation to individuals. I just discovered Human Milk 4 Human Babies on Facebook yesterday.  See: https://www.facebook.com/HM4HBTexas

 You can post an offer, and someone else can reply.

 

BLONDIE6FT

i have a friend i've given milk to because she had a double masectomy (her mom and sister died of breast cancer). she just had her baby a few weeks ago, so she is happy to take whatever she can get (i guess i should ask her if she wants some from my virtual friends first, huh?? 

just a thought if you can't find an organization to donate to.

alexluvstx at yahoo dot com 

 

rssnlvr

BLONDIE6FT:

i have a friend i've given milk to because she had a double masectomy (her mom and sister died of breast cancer). she just had her baby a few weeks ago, so she is happy to take whatever she can get (i guess i should ask her if she wants some from my virtual friends first, huh?? 

just a thought if you can't find an organization to donate to.

alexluvstx at yahoo dot com 

 

Oh wow. If she's up for it, I'm happy to donate to her. I like this way better than a random donation. I'll email you. 

bluestreet

rssnlvr:

BLONDIE6FT:

i have a friend i've given milk to because she had a double masectomy (her mom and sister died of breast cancer). she just had her baby a few weeks ago, so she is happy to take whatever she can get (i guess i should ask her if she wants some from my virtual friends first, huh?? 

just a thought if you can't find an organization to donate to.

alexluvstx at yahoo dot com 

 

Oh wow. If she's up for it, I'm happy to donate to her. I like this way better than a random donation. I'll email you. 

Even if this doesn't work out, this exchange just made my day. ::sniffle::

NoVA-grl

bluestreet:

rssnlvr:

BLONDIE6FT:

i have a friend i've given milk to because she had a double masectomy (her mom and sister died of breast cancer). she just had her baby a few weeks ago, so she is happy to take whatever she can get (i guess i should ask her if she wants some from my virtual friends first, huh?? 

just a thought if you can't find an organization to donate to.

alexluvstx at yahoo dot com 

 

Oh wow. If she's up for it, I'm happy to donate to her. I like this way better than a random donation. I'll email you. 

Even if this doesn't work out, this exchange just made my day. ::sniffle::

This exactly.