I just went to the site and it was pretty easy to read the messages without paying or registering, I just clicked the entry to the forums button that is below the paypal button, then there was a message that popped up, I clicked it to go away and I was there, just not logged in, so only able to read not post.
I looked at my state, it was almost the highest volume state and even then was low volume! About 2/3 were requests, 1/3 offers, which seems pretty good, but I did notice that many people requested to email them as they didn't check to board often.
I like the idea of milk share, but it relies a lot on how you tell your story, some of them make me think they are going over the top in begging, others make me wonder why I should go to any effort, I can understand not wanting to share details of what may have been a difficult experience, but then the fact I had so much stashed is also because of a difficult experience.
I have to take some meds, so I'm not confident about offering it, but knowing my slightly early and small baby has been fine with it, I would have given it to an older baby. I didn't record details of dose changes or med changes, so I could only give rough parameters and have checked them all in Hale's and all are L2 or L3 and most importantly for milkshare, none have any listed interactions, so an receipient could mix it do further decrease any possible dose. Yet my only contact with potential recipients wasn't great, I know they have to ask questions, but unless the response is that the baby has a sensitivity to a drug or food, in turning it down, it says that my milk isn't good enough for their baby, even when I say, have it, put it at the back of your freezer, use it last, that's better than it not being used at all, I understand you want the best for your baby, but if formula is better than my milk for your baby, how important is this to you? Same with all the questioning about food, asking me about caffeine is not a problem, asking me about foods you know you baby is sensitive to is fine, but whether I eat organic or not is a bit much if you ask me!
I totally understand why a milk bank wouldn't want my milk, I probably wouldn't have given it to a very sick or very premature infant, but there is a huge difference between a 1-2lb micropreemie and a 1 year old.
Maybe I'm being too touchy, everyone wants their child to be safe, but less than perfect milk is often still better than formula.
