Breastfeeding

Oversupply and Donating Milk?

It appears that I have a bit of an oversupply and overactive letdown.  I can pump about 10oz in 10-15 minutes between my son's normal nursing sessions.  My question is would it be detrimental to pump once every couple of days to donate milk?  DS does have some trouble with my letdown and I don't want that to get worse for him.  I feel like I remember DD being able to handle the letdown better as she got older.... is that usually the case?  Also, has anyone noticed an oversupply calm down after the 6 week mark?  I read somewhere that milk production switches from hormonal-based to supply & demand after around 6 weeks.   

Anyone else donate milk?  Pros & Cons?  Sweet stories?
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Re: Oversupply and Donating Milk?

  • I recently donated 600 ounces. It will help babies in the NICU. I'm just happy vto help others because we will never use that much.
    I pumped in the morning to build a stash and never gave it up.

                                                              

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  • I've donated about 600oz over the past 6 mos or so. Be careful with over supply like that though, you don't want your body to think it's necessary to produce that much milk.
    Natural m/c Oct. 2005

    Dx: balanced translocation and LPD

    TTC since Oct 2011

    BPF 02/19/12, EDD 10/31/12, natural m/c 02/28/12 (4w6d)

    IVF (BCPs starting 10/30/12, ER 11/18/12, 5dt of 1 beautiful, healthy embryo 11/23/12)
    BFP 12/02/12, u/s @ 6w,5d showed 2 HBs! Identical twins!!
    Bed rest from 21w-35w due to short cervix, hospital bed rest from 23w-32w due to PTL
    Our rainbows were born 07/19/13 (36w, 5d)

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  • memo9memo9 member
    Thanks for the insight!  I stay at home so I don't need too much of a freezer stash.  I think ideally I would like to keep 2 days worth in the freezer.  Maybe like 50oz? 

    DS is 7 weeks so hopefully it will regulate soon.  He's around 16lbs so he has definitely been benefiting from the milk surplus. ;)

    I love the idea of helping other babies with the abundance I've been blessed with! 


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  • I donated through Milkin Mama's and was so happy with the support and sense of community that they offered. You can find their website easily by googling it. They also are offering a $300 reimbursement for your breastpump cost if you qualify and provide everything you need to donate (shipping, milk storage bags). I didn't chose to donate because of the perks but found those to be extra incentive as well :)
  • memo9memo9 member

    I donated through Milkin Mama's and was so happy with the support and sense of community that they offered. You can find their website easily by googling it. They also are offering a $300 reimbursement for your breastpump cost if you qualify and provide everything you need to donate (shipping, milk storage bags). I didn't chose to donate because of the perks but found those to be extra incentive as well :)
    What do they do with the milk?  Is there a minimum donation?
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  • memo9memo9 member
    Thanks ladies!  After doing some research I definitely don't want some company making money off my milk.  Turns out my birth center collects milk for a few moms there who need it so I think I am going to go that route.
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