donating breastmilk

[PunkElmo]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post (mods please move if it is not!)

I just gave birth to a stillborn beautiful baby girl, and I'm wondering if anyone has resources for where to donate milk, if I am able.  Any suggestions or input welcome!

[sillysmile]

I know a newly adopted baby girl whose parents are looking for donor milk. There are also milk banks. Feel free to PM me if you want the contact info for either. It is so generous of you to consider donating -

[Thandiwe]

Milkin' Mamas offers resources to assist in milk donations.  I agree; that is very generous to consider donations.

[averlee]

I am so sorry for your loss. I just went through a miscarriage and I know it isn't the same thing but my heart aches for you and both our babies.

In my area, there are two hospitals that accept donor milk. One of them will give you a fee waiver of the pump rental, and the other will allow you to come in to pump in their station. Also, there is an adoption agency in my area that helps adoptive parents connect with women who have milk to donate.

[ryleeee]

judy you're in new york, right? there is an eats on feets chapter there: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eats-On-Feets-New-York/150501331684352

[MamitaM]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's such a generous thing to donate milk. I'd look for Human Milk 4 Human Babies on facebook for a chapter near you.

http://www.facebook.com/hm4hb

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by MamitaM 

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's such a generous thing to donate milk. I'd look for Human Milk 4 Human Babies on facebook for a chapter near you.

http://www.facebook.com/hm4hb

I echo the PPs' thoughts. I am so sorry for your loss.

[PunkElmo]

Thanks everyone - some good resources so far!

I had a postpartum visit today and discussed donating milk... the advice I was given was that it may be a better idea to pump/express for about 6 weeks (the "selfish" reasons why I want to express my milk in some way are the lowered risk of breast cancer, supposedly better/faster healing for my body, and to make sure I CAN express milk) and freeze the milk as I go... then make a one-time donation to either a milk bank or an individual.

Pumping exclusively for someone else's child; having them rely on my milk is a BIG commitment, so it makes sense to pump for a bit while I was going to be laying low ANYway, see how it goes, and then re-assess the situation.

In other news, it seems my milk came in.  I hand expressed a bunch, I was going to get the avent hand pump and some freezer bags tonight or tomorrow.

[Thandiwe]

If you contact Milkin' Mamas, they request 150 oz for a donation.  They also provide storage bags if needed and a cooler to mail back to them.  They pay for all lab fees.  They would certainly be willing to take a one-time donation.  I agree with you, one-time might be the best thing for you just to see what happens.  You might want to check out the Medela hand pump instead of the Avent, though.  I've had both, and the Medela Harmony single manual is waaaaay more effective, in my own honest opinion.  Might be different for you, but if you're only going to buy one manual, I would go for the Medela.

[PunkElmo]

funny you should mention the medela pump... I only said Avent because that hand pump was recommended by a midwife

I was SO PAINFULLY engorged Thursday night that I headed over to the center with Target/Babies R Us first thing on Friday for a pump... There seem to be 4 or 5 brands of basic hand pumps, but I really liked that the Medela has the 2-phase expression, and I know from reading reviews that their pumps tend to be more compatible with a variety of bottles and bags (I think they'll fit the glass bottles that we received from our registry - I know they fit the Medela PIS, which we were going to buy after BFing was established)... PLUS the Medela seemed to be the cheapest hand pump (bonus!).

$34.99 with a 15% off coupon... $29.99 well spent for the Medela Harmony whether or not I end up donating the milk, or even using the pump again - the engorgement relief was - ahhhhhhhhh, and I'll be able to use the pump with subsequent babies if/when needed.

I got between 4 and 5oz. of milk in a relatively short amount of time - I suppose if that happens a few times a day over 5-6 weeks, that'd definitely be enough for milkin' mamas, so I'll have to contact them (especially if they pay for storage bags and lab fees - goodness that's helpful to someone who wants to donate!)
 

Originally Posted by Thandiwe 

If you contact Milkin' Mamas, they request 150 oz for a donation.  They also provide storage bags if needed and a cooler to mail back to them.  They pay for all lab fees.  They would certainly be willing to take a one-time donation.  I agree with you, one-time might be the best thing for you just to see what happens.  You might want to check out the Medela hand pump instead of the Avent, though.  I've had both, and the Medela Harmony single manual is waaaaay more effective, in my own honest opinion.  Might be different for you, but if you're only going to buy one manual, I would go for the Medela.

[MamitaM]

I don't think any reason you could give for donating your milk could be a selfish one at all. It's such an amazing and generous thing you are doing,especially in your situation. To be honest,I don't think I could do it.

If you contact a mama on Human Milk 4 Human Babies she'd accept milk on a one time donation as well. Does Milken Mamas charge a fee to give your milk you donate to a mama?

[PunkElmo]

looks like Milkin' Mamas is out of the question... no way can I get my crappy freezer down to -4F!

[MamitaM]

Try HM4HB,Emma has told me they need milk in your area.

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by PunkElmo 

looks like Milkin' Mamas is out of the question... no way can I get my crappy freezer down to -4F!

Really?  Did you call or just check their website?  I was set up to donate through them but before I reached the amount, I had to start a med.  They never mentioned anything to me.  Maybe it's new!  I hope you find an avenue that works!

[rebirth]

I would highly recommend going onto the human milk 4 human babies FB page. I've donated and helped collect/cordinate donations and it is a great resource, raw/unpasturized breastmilk is the best for babies, and if you ask for milk bags I bet mamas would be happy to supply them!