would you donate milk?

linzeek44 · April 2012

So, I'm researching hospitals now that I'm moving to another state in the third trimester. The one I'm looking at is actually one of nine milk banks in the country.

Obviously, I have no clue what my supply will be and/or what my child will need, but I'm still curious to hear people's opinions.

Would you donate milk? Would you use donated milk (from an official milk bank where it's been tested/etc.)?

Jessrof · April 2012

I would love to be able to donate milk and I plan on doing so if my supply is healthy. As for using milk, I feel that mother's milk is much better for baby than formula so I would have no prob using it. That being said, I would have issue using it if there was a low supply. I would rather moms with premies use it than I if milk was scarce at the time

dmfan897 · April 2012

I would donate milk if I had a huge oversupply. I don't know if I would use donated milk..I haven't read too much about it, but from what I hear it can be really expensive to "purchase" donated breastmilk [unless this is something that insurance might cover?]. Personally I have used formula for previous kids so if BFing didn't work out I would switch to it.

katieguth · April 2012

I would donate this time!!! I was lucky enough to supply enough for DD. However, there are so many mothers who don't. Or for whatever reason cannot produce. There were many mothers that used donated milk in the NICU. It is highly recommended by doctors for premature babies. I signed a release the very first day of my child's life saying that they could use donated milk if I wasn't able to produce enough. I never regretted that decision.

Just my opinion of course. But wanted others to know how much good your donated milk can do!!!

blindvictory · April 2012

I would totally do it if I had enough of a supply. Breastmilk is great stuff, and if I could help provide that for someone who couldn't provide it on their own, why not?

I kinda see it like organ donation...I'm not using it and someone else could, so what's the hangup? (Obviously, organ donation is different in that I'd be dead. Breastmilk would require me to pump. But still...small effort, big payoff for someone else.)

damabo80 · April 2012

Yes and yes.

WHen DD was in the NICU, she was on donated milk for a few days before my milk came in. I am so thankful that she didn't have to have formula (formula contributes to a higher chance of NEC, which can be deadly in a baby that small, per her NICU medical team).

If I had an oversupply, I would return the favor, probably via Human Milk For Human Babies.

damabo80 · April 2012

PinkLily1234:
I wouldn't donate because I feel like you have to jump through hoops with testing and there are very strict requirements that I just don't have time to follow with a newborn. I guess that makes me a selfish b!tch.

There are "grassroots" milk donation programs that require no hoops. Look on Facebook for your local (by state) human milk for human babies program. You post how much you have, if you follow any special diet, any meds you take, and a desperate woman (actually multiple women) will ask for what you have. No testing, no special requirements or diet.

tlew12778 · April 2012

I would donate and use donated milk. I didn't know I could donate to the milk bank at the NICU last time and missed the window (they will only take the first 6 months of milk here bc the composition is different and they only use it for preemies). I didn't need donated milk (had oversupply) and couldn't find a mom to take mine so I ended up dumping a lot after if expired

klm1221 · April 2012

Just use formula.. everyone who says its better for the child blah blah blah.. All my friends who BF have sick children more then my daugther who was FF and is in full time daycare... all of their children have FTM and get sick every other week with something..

jbBeans · April 2012

I would definitely donate if I had a big oversupply.

As for using--I hadn't thought about it. To me, there's something a little weird-feeling about it, but I think I'd get over it really quickly if my baby was premature and really needed it.

I like BlindVictory's organ donor analogy--I feel the same way about organs (in fact, I want to donate my entire body to medical research after I die, but I am still working on getting my family used to that idea). If I am not using something that can be so beneficial or life-saving for someone, they can have it!

mchupie · April 2012

damabo80:
PinkLily1234:
I wouldn't donate because I feel like you have to jump through hoops with testing and there are very strict requirements that I just don't have time to follow with a newborn. I guess that makes me a selfish b!tch.
There are "grassroots" milk donation programs that require no hoops. Look on Facebook for your local (by state) human milk for human babies program. You post how much you have, if you follow any special diet, any meds you take, and a desperate woman (actually multiple women) will ask for what you have. No testing, no special requirements or diet.

I donated 300 ounces to a cancer patient who could no longer breastfeed through Facebook. The group was Human Milk for Human Babies. I don't know if I would use donated milk, but since I was just going to throw it out I figured this would be a better option.

damabo80 · April 2012

klm1221:
Just use formula.. everyone who says its better for the child blah blah blah.. All my friends who BF have sick children more then my daugther who was FF and is in full time daycare... all of their children have FTM and get sick every other week with something..

And to think my daughter's NICU medical team gave me opposite information. Clearly, you know much more about the subject than some team of specialized doctors.

aaturnwald · April 2012

Yes I would donate if I was BFing and had a large oversupply. I would be more so inclined to do this if we lived closer to one of the facilities that accepted the milk. If I have a premie and was unable to BF.. and it was suggested then yes I would certainly use donated milk.

tlew12778 · April 2012

I will definitely donate this time around. Last time I missed not only the 6m window but they require you to undergo separate blood analysis before storage. Plus they require you to use their storage bags so I couldn't give them what I already had

If I were in the US I'd probably donate through the yahoo group as well as eats on feets. I'm actually signed up for tha yahoo group but can only ship within western Europe.

VineyardMel · April 2012

Yes and yes!

GreyLove · April 2012

I would be happy to donate milk if I had a massive oversupply. I'd also be very open to the idea of using donated milk if for some reason BFing didn't work out for me.

melody921 · April 2012

I would definitely donate, but I'd be hesitant to accept it. Double standard, I know, but I just don't like the idea of giving my baby a stranger's milk. But since not everyone feels as I do, if I had over-supply, I'd be willing to help someone else.

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