I used to think everyone struggled to make enough milk. Because, come on, breastfeeding is just plain hard.
Soย when my second-born daughter’s feeding issues catapulted us into a rare disease diagnosis and subsequent feeding tube surgery, I would soon learn another truth.
Exclusive pumpingย isย even harder.
I loathed that tiny piece of modern machinery, but Iย wasn’t going to let my daughterย down. Breastmilk was a cornerstone in her complex diet. So I pumped. I pumped through tears and breast infections, exhaustion, and pain. And after 11 months of what can only be described as breast abuse,ย I was done. The milkย stopped flowing and panic set in.
What was I going to do?ย I couldnโt make it. I couldnโt buy it. And my daughter no longer fit the medical requirements to receive it from a donor bank.ย And yet, sheย still needed itย in every way.
So I did what any desperate mother would do:ย I turned to Facebook.
Looking back, I now see this as one of the best decisions I ever made for my daughter โ and myself. Before I knew it, my post had gone viral. I had moms from across the state pumping, freezing, storing, and selflessly transporting milk to me in one of the greatest events of self-sacrificing goodnessย I have ever experienced.
Talk about manna from heaven. It was liquid love.
Milk to Shareย
My eyes have been opened through our experience, and I now know there are amazing moms in the world who also happen to be over-producers. These moms not only make enough milk for their little ones, but typically have dozens of bags of frozen milk stashed away, too. If you happen to be thisย mom, please know you can save a lot of lives with this priceless gift. And itโs actually pretty easy to ย do.
- Contact the milk bank.ย Mothers Milk Bank of North Texasย is the primary source for donor milk to DFW-area NICUs and childrenโs hospitals. They have a network of approved drop-off locationsย around the state and ask for donors to participate in a phone interview and blood draw before they are approved. Each donor receives an identification number and is asked to give a minimum of 100 ounces. All milk is pasteurized and tested before being given to a baby in need. Learn more about becoming a milk donor here.
- Online milk sharing groups:ย Think of it like Craigslist for breastmilk, but no money is exchanged. Two reputable groups are Human Milk 4 Human Babies Texasย and Eats on Feets Texas. You can post in these groups the amount of milk you have to share and coordinate directly with other moms on the delivery. If you are an over-supplier, or just happen to have a stash of frozen milk you donโt know what to do with, these pages may be a great way for you to give. Every ounce matters.
Give Me All the Milk.ย
Below are a few suggestions on the best ways to find breastmilk for your baby.
- Talk to your pediatrician.ย If your child has a medical diagnosis that requires breastmilk, you can ask your pediatrician for a prescription to give to the local milk bank. Mothers Milk Bank of North Texasย supplies milk to area hospitals and even some outpatient babies, giving first preference to hospital preemies and infants who have documented unsuccessful trials of other formulas. You can find all the details and requirements to receive milk here.
- Make your needs known.ย At first, I felt awkward advertising my need for breastmilk, but was quickly reminded that it wasnโt my need โ it was my childโs. A friend of a friend gave us our first donation. I asked her all the important questions. (Do you drink? Do you smoke? Do you use any medications or drugs?) My daughter thrived on this motherโs milk for almost five months before I had to turn to other sources.
- Online milk sharing groups:ย I posted a short story about my daughter on the Human Milk 4 Human Babies Facebook page, and within 24 hours moms from across the state were contacting me to donate. Many were close by, some were friends, and all were open to answering my questions. My now 18-month-old daughter continues to reap the benefit of breastmilk donated to us from these incredible women.
Tips for Accepting Donor Milk
Getting breastmilk from individual moms does come with its warnings.
You should NEVER pay someone for breastmilk online. Sites and individuals who are trying to sell breastmilk to you often dilute it with cowโs milkย or formula.
Also, if you are accepting breastmilk from an unknown individual, you are assuming some risks when it comes to the other momโs diet and habits. Use your best judgment and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable.
Store each motherโs milk in separate large Ziploc bags, and write her name and any medications she was taking on the outside. That way you will be able to identify the source if your child shows any intolerance.
Have you ever donated or received milk? Do you have any tips or advice?
Why couldn’t your pedi write a prescription for you to get it from the milk bank?
Hi Taylor! I guess the simple answer is she didn’t qualify. You typically have to prove that you have tried other types of formulas and they weren’t well tolerated before you can go down that path. We knew breastmilk was best for her, but since her diagnosis is rare and her diet is not medically researched we couldn’t “prove” her need. I could seriously write a novel about all of this, but hopefully that helps answer your question!
I’m an over supplier. I’m going to research now how I can share in Indiana. Thanks for bringing awareness.
Emily, that is so great! I really didn’t know anything about all of this until we were in need. I know you will be a blessing to another mom and baby.
One additional note worth sharing is that milk donated to and given from the milk bank is pasteurized. It’s still breastmilk but some attributes that make breastmilk so great are lost in pasteurization. Direct donor milk is straight from the source, without pasteurization but of course with all the associated risks! ๐
I exclusively pumped for my third daughter after an unexpected NICU stay and I ended up donating a lot over the course of that time. I never needed it but I would have taken milk from the milk bank or from direct donors in a heartbeat. Personally I preferred to donate directly without pasteurization.
Thanks for sharing that info, Marion! And thanks for being a donor.
Do internet donors get tested for drugs and diseases as well?
Hi Nai, If you are asking about those who donate through Human Milk 4 Human Babies or Eats on Feets Texas, there is no formal testing involved. It’s the mother’s discretion as to whether she accepts the donor milk or not. But in my experience, I’ve found that all of the mothers are open to answering any questions you have about their lifestyle or medications. Also, I’ve learned that many of the mothers who donate through these pages are approved milk bank donors, too. It’s just another avenue for them to give to local babies in need. I hope that helps answer your question!
What a wonderful piece & a happy surprise to see that it was written by Emme’s sweet mama! I’m a former MMB donor & my son was also a recipient of milk from Human Milk for Human Babies, but I learned several items and have already incorporated your article within my job as a pedi nurse. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Oh I’m so happy to hear that Aubrey! We have learned a lot in this past year, so it makes me so happy to know we can help other moms and babies, too. ๐
I was blessed with a VERY abundant breast milk supply – produced 60-80 ounces a day – and I’m a retired exclusive pumper and donor. One of my biggest accomplishments as a woman and mother, as a human really, was donating more than 50 GALLONS to Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas over a 12-month period. Knowing my milk was saving sick or premature babies was an incredible feeling, I still miss pumping (as crazy as that sounds, it’s true.)
I have very mixed feelings about your inclusion of web-based milk providers. It’s a very delicate line to walk as a parent, one must ask if the rewards are worth the risks. As a registered donor, I took pride in knowing that my OB and son’s pediatrician approved my participation, along with regular blood tests and milk analyses. Plus, because I was dairy-free, my milk was in even higher demand for the most critical NICU patients. I don’t say this to boast but to educate and make sure parents are aware of the RISKS involved with Internet transactions. I’ve been approached by bodybuilders willing to pay top dollar for my liquid gold. (Insert creepy face here.) Countless studies have been done and proven to show a vast majority of advertised breast milk online contains cow’s milk, formula, water, or a combination of the three. Not to mention the alcohol, smoking, or drugs (prescribed or not) on the woman’s system.
In full disclosure, I shared my milk twice in the 12 months I pumped BUT both mothers are close family members who know me VERY well and, at the time, I was visiting them in Kentucky and I honestly didn’t want to mess with bringing the milk back home to Texas with me. I gave them each 100 ounces.
To all parents, I say, don’t use your better judgment but rather your BEST judgment. Deals online can get shady and dishonest quick.
My favorite recommendation to mothers with an abundant milk supply is this: become a REGISTERED donor at Mother’s Milk Bank. The process could not be any easier AND all of your lab fees and testing are free of charge. Plus, MMB will pay for milk storage supplies and overnight shipping to storage depots!!!!!