All You Ever Wanted To Know About Breastmilk Donation

As I write this, I’m now more than a year removed from breastfeeding, and I am 100% glad for it. With no more baby brewing in my future, it truly is a welcomed feeling having my body back as “my own.” I have fond memories of that time though; the quiet mornings nursing, the pride in literally giving life to your child. But also, there resides a perhaps, not so expected and cherished memory that I want to share today. That is my experience with breastmilk donation.

[ReviewDisclaimer]

Say whaaaat?

Yes! Your girl had the distinct honor of donating over 900+ oz to a little boy and his adoptive mother. I say an “honor” because not only was I lucky enough to have such a great supply for my little one(s), but I also produced enough that quite unexpectedly, blessed another family.

I thought not even to bring this up because HELLOOO, from an outsider’s perspective, it’s a little weird, right?! If someone had told me about milk donation only a couple weeks into motherhood I’d be like “Okay psycho, not my milk, NOT. MY. BABY!”

But sure enough, I have ended up in conversation about it more than you expect because… it’s not AT ALL as “weird” as you would expect! There are in fact, whole communities of mothers and children rallying behind breast milk donation.

So if you’ve ever been curious about breastmilk donation, considered donating yourself, or considered accepting donations, you’ve come to the right spot!

WHY WOULD YOU DONATE?

You make too much milk, mama! Good for you! Your kid is well-fed, you’re running out of freezer space and you need to do something with it… ASAP!

…AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WANT IT?

You bet! Remember the adopted newborn? Fragile NICU infants, fellow mamas with low supply, babies with formula allergies, adoptive mothers… are all possible (and totally deserving) candidates for breastmilk donation.

Okay, so supply meets demand… now what?

HOW DO YOU FIND A “FIT?”

First off, your local hospital/birthing center is a great start, and they’re the ones who need it the most! As I mentioned before, fragile NICU babies are the most in need of quality breastmilk and you could make the biggest difference in their new lives. Here in Raleigh, WakeMed is the place to get started.

You can also go straight to a milk bank, which will screen, test, and deliver milk to hospitals on a national level. This is a great resource if something more structured resonates with you.

Informal milk donation is also an option. I’ve found particularly through Facebook, you can network with dozens of local, regional, and national “milkshare” groups that connect you directly to mothers in need, or mothers with some to share. (Raleigh-Durham mamas, this was a very valuable group! This one, too, for greater NC.)

Finally, it might be worth posting about in your local mom’s Facebook group! That’s how I got connected. I vaguely remember posting… “I have a ton of extra milk and have no idea what to do with it,” and I was SWARMED with responses from fellow mothers.

Regardless, depending on the route you go for breastmilk donation –formal vs. informal—you’ll  have different protocol to follow. For instance, a hospital or milk bank is going to require screenings, blood tests, and essentially zero out any alcohol consumption. On the other hand, a local mom might be tolerant of your recreational glass of wine but could have stringent dietary requirements because their baby is allergic to dairy, as an example.

Go the route YOU feel most comfortable with. The good news is that you’re providing an amazing and highly demanded service, regardless of the path you take.

WHAT NOT TO DO 

Do. Not. Sell. Your. Breastmilk.

That time I had to buy a breastpump in Mexico…

Don’t be that person. Why? Well, a couple of reasons:

1.) As stated before, there are plenty of babies and mamas who desperately need it.

There are few things in this world you can do 100% altruistically. Be selfless.

2.) Money incentivizes (sick) people to alter the contents of breastmilk so that they can sell more of “it.”

(Ever fill up your parent’s liquor bottles with water after you and your friends stole a couple of swigs?) Well, unfortunately, there have been cases where women dilute breastmilk with water or cow’s milk in order to sell “more” ounces. AND THAT’S DESPICABLE.

3.) Babies are very seldom, the recipients of “for-profit” breastmilk.

I am way too skeeved out to share the details about all the body builders or strange men with fetishes who are in search of “warm” breastmilk to add to their diets. (SICK!!) So, if that doesn’t sell you on why breastmilk donation  is the way to go, nothing will.

However, I’ve learned it’s not uncommon to ask (or for the one receiving the donation) to offer a gift in exchange for milk. Think: diapers, milk storage bags, etc.

Then, don’t forget to use this awesome milk storage hack for your recipient mamas with properly labeled bags! 😉

THE JIST OF BREASTMILK DONATION

In my experience, friend of a friend in a random local moms Facebook group made my match. A few lines through Messenger and a quick conversation on the phone sealed the deal.

Okay, as a mom myself, I was paranoid that a stranger would even TRUST me to provide sustenance to their kid. I mean, I KNOW I’ve never done meth, but THEY don’t!

Apparently, my recipient had the same fears. This is what it comes down to.

We do live in a scary world, and people do unimaginable things. But for a fellow mother to do the work of pumping almost 1000 oz (and it IS INDEED work) only to lace it with illegal drugs and diseases, and THEN willingly scout out a vulnerable mother to maliciously poison their baby… I HAVE TO THINK we all live in a better world than that.

(PS – fellow pumping mamas… don’t forget to check out my guide to exclusively pumping as well as must-have pumping products you can find on Amazon!)

So take this for what you will! But know this… if you have ANY additional breastmilk to donate, there is a market for it. There are  mothers and babies out there who would appreciate milk in any amount you could provide, more than you would ever know.

And that’s why I even bothered to write this post today. Mamas with a little extra to spare: I hope you understand the magnitude of the gift you could be giving. If you weren’t aware before, I truly hope you’ll consider the chance to help another family! Mamas who are searching: we’re coming for you! I hope this post encourages you that the word IS being spread, and your gift is arriving, soon.

Any milk-share mamas out there?! I’d love to hear your story!