Hi Mom's,
I have a little over 40 ounces of breastmilk in my freezer that is about 2 months old. I pumped extra so that I could use it if needed when I stopped breastfeding during the day. I have looked into donating it but most places have a minimum of 100 ounces and make you jump through a lot of hoops. I would love for someone in need to take it but I have asked all of my mom friends and they all have an abundance themselves. Please let me know if you are interested.
Wow!!! I really didn't think this would be offensive to people. I think you should really educate yourself before you comment about using others breastmilk. If you are offended please keep your comments to yourself as this is obviously not for you. I am a non smoking, non drug using mom who just doesn't want to throw it away. If no one wants it than I will have no other choice. Only respond if you would like it or know someone that does.
Seems like Jamie & Emily are basically saying the same thing...O. in a nice way, the other in another way....
Don't dump it, all that work on your part!! Why not just offer your milk to your child in a sippy cup? I had tons left over after I was finished nursing, since mine never took a bottle. My kids had breastmilk in a cup even after they were drinking whole milk. It can't hurt him!!
A.,
I'm sure your donation offer is meant in the best of spirit, but the reason breast milk donation places make you "jump through hoops" is because breast milk can contain any toxin you've ingested, including drugs and alcohol. In addition, if you happened to be HIV positive, you could pass the virus through your breast milk. Milk banks screen for these things and would be the only healthy, responsible way for most parents to consider feeding the donated milk to their baby. Unless you have a very good friend who trusts you implicitly I can't imagine who else would want your milk.
I'm not saying you have HIV or are a drug user, I'm simply suggesting these are the things mothers would need to be able to ascertain beyond all doubt and can't in your case.
Good job breast feeding your baby, but I think dumping your unused milk is your only alternative.
Hi A..
I understand what you're trying to do. I had to throw out at least a weeks worth of feedings that I had frozen. It's tough to do since so much work went into pumping it and storing it. I think it's generous to want to help others with it. However, I agree with the other mama's that your only options here are to either give it to someone close to you that knows and trusts you, or use it in recipes. Breastmilk isn't only for babies! There are pro football players that have their wives continue to pump for them after baby stops nursing because they understand the benefits of it and drink it themselves. lol! And it tastes good, so I'm sure it'd be good in recipes.
As for Emily C... just report her as inappropriate and the mamapedia staff will remove her post. What she did is called "flaming". It's when someone doesn't have anything useful or relevant to say and they post for the express purpose of running someone down, calling someone a name or just in general being rude and argumentative.
Edit: Oh and I'd also like to add that I think all of the hoops are a little crazy. Yes, they're necessary to a certain extent but I think these things have a way of taking on a life of their own. You don't see everyone demanding health certificates from the cows that their family's skim milk comes from. Why is cow's milk considered okay (no matter how many hormones and antibiotics are pumped into it) and human milk is considered gross? It's just so strange!
@ Emily C...Seriously? That was very rude!
Lots of people donate and use donated milk. Years ago, there were women who had such an abundance of milk, they were asked by the hospitals to be a "wet nurse" for mothers who couldn't prduce enough milk to sustain their babies. I think it is incredibly generous of A. to want her unused milk to go to someone who can use it as opposed to just dumping it. While I personally, would not use donated milk over formula (I have successfully breastfed all 4 of my children to at least 1 year), many people would. I would honestly have a hard time accepting donor milk from a close friend or relative, and wouldn't even consider it from a stranger. I would be concerned about what the milk could be contaminated with. I'm not suggesting in any way that your milk is contaminated, but you never know with strangers, know what I mean?
I also looked into wanting to donate my extra breastmilk and think that it is very generous of you to offer.
I hope you find someone willing to take the milk.....but have you thought about putting it in your child's meals? I used up a lot of my milk by putting it into my daughter's early meals when she started solids. I would also consider putting it into her sippy cups (if I had any left).
I've also read on this forum of a mom that used her milk on injuries and eye infections. She said that since it wasn't going to be consumed she wasn't worried about it "expiring" in the freezer.
Don't let it go to waste! :) Good luck to you.
They make donated milk donors go through hoops for a reason...Wouldn't you want to know where it came from was it tested for diseases, contamination,bacteria or if the mom was a drug user.Only to protect our babies from harm.I'm a breastfeeding mama my baby is 15 months now & still going strong.
I think the steps it takes to donate make sense. I hate things that are tedious like that, myself- but in order to properly donate you need to do it. Sooo... i think your only option is a different one. You can dump it OR:
You can use it in recipes for your family! Really. There are lots of recipes that can either be altered so you can use breast milk or recipes made specifically with breast milk. I'm only half joking when I say- what about ice cream? You probably wouldn't need to add sugar!
Hi A.... :)
So, I had a bunch left over and kept it deep in the freezer for a few months. My middle baby got really really sick at about 15 months...she got an ear infection, was treated with amoxacillin (sp?, wheres my spell check! :)) but the antibiotic was useless...the infection thraveled to her throat, welts formed...etc. Needless to say she was sick for a solid two weeks and since her throat was in such bad shape, she wouldn't eat. BUT, she would drink the breast milk. My saved frozen milk sustained her for two full weeks. The doctor said she would have had to be hospitalized if I hadn't had the extra milk. Save, save and save your milk..pump as long as you can...you never know when you may need it. :) Just make sure to store it in the back of the freezer so it stays as frozen as possible.
D.. :)
You may want to save it as it is great for bumps and bruises, ear infections, skin irritations, just rub a bit on, or drip a drop in an infected ear, and it's awesome. I would take it if I had a little one!!!
HI A.! After that first horrible response, I am glad to see such nice women respond to you!
This is going to crack you up and......mabey gross you out a little bit, but I once read a book (can't remember the title, but it was about breastfeeding) that had a few recipes that included breastmilk. One of the recipes was pumpkin muffins. Mabey your little one would enjoy some nummy muffins! :)
