As a three-time donor, Camille has now donated almost 1,500 ounces for a total of 1,750 ounces.
Milk drives have been a great way to get out and about to connect with the community – we’ve been able to hold them with a variety of community partners including hospitals, clinics, a private lactation consultant’s office, and even as part of a Trunk or Treat Halloween event with a local nonprofit supporting NICU families.
After their son's unexpected early arrival, Susan and Wes are grateful for their extra liquid gold, and that they can pay it forward to help other fragile babies and families who are in the NICU.
Krista says, “Donating my extra milk is extremely special. I know that many moms either struggle or cannot produce enough at times. I am blessed that I am able to help out anyone that may need it.”
Tiffany has taken full advantage of our depot collection site at Van Buren County Health Unit in Clinton, Arkansas, making one large donation of her extra milk with each of her three babies, now 14 months, 4 and 7 years old.
In her own heartrending words, Verda shares how donating breastmilk after the monumental loss of her daughter has acknowledged, honored and celebrated her beloved baby girl.
Human milk is a “a lifesaving intervention for premature infants” but human donor milk in NICUs isn’t always accessible to fragile babies who might need this liquid gold.
Connie Rico, our amazing bilingual certified IBCLC, is hosting our Baby Café breastfeeding support group en español.
At 20 weeks into her pregnancy, it was discovered during an ultrasound that Katie’s daughter Louise had what was thought to be a cleft lip. After further tests, it was discovered that Louise had a rare genetic deletion syndrome which causes brain and heart abnormalities.
Milk donor, Emely, has advice for fellow moms who are helping other babies with their extra breastmilk.
Moulee is an Indian American and retired donor mom. Her mantra “haters gonna hate, potatoes gonna potate” centers on creating a positive environment for herself and her family. “Give your energy to the people who bring light to your life, who encourage you to accept you exactly as you are. And most importantly, ask for what you need and deserve!
Mary and her husband live in Grand Prairie with their three children, Divine, Wisdom and Wonderful. Mary affirms her calling to motherhood naturally includes donating her extra breastmilk to help others.
Jennifer, a current nursing student from Princeton, Texas, shares her thoughts and advice about milk donation.
Unable to breastfeed her first two children, Gaby was determined to succeed with her third. This plan became extremely challenging when Moroni was born early at 35 weeks in the emergency room weighing four pounds.
Myles was born prematurely at 25 weeks and weighed only one pound, eleven ounces. He was slightly heavier than a basketball, six medium-sized bananas or six sticks of butter which classified him as a micropreemie. Due to his early arrival, Myles would face many challenges and a long stay in the hospital NICU.
Most people are not aware that babies born too soon or with a medical condition are at high risk for a complex disease called necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC. NEC is a severe intestinal disease that affects vulnerable infants, most often in the early weeks of life.
Ashlea's 20-week ultrasound revealed her baby had a serious heart defect. Sydni was born with double outlet right ventricle (DORV) which has required 3 surgeries so far. Now at age 2, Sydni is receiving donor human milk at night through her G-tube and working on eating solid foods during the day. Her fourth and final corrective surgery will be scheduled soon and then she can look forward to becoming a big sister in the fall to the family's fourth girl.
Moulee is on a mission to help other mothers. She explains, “I am passionate about motherhood and breastfeeding. There is still not enough priority given to helping first-time moms learn everything that goes behind breastfeeding. And for those who are not able to produce milk, my heart breaks for them because it causes guilt they should not have to bear.”
Kristian's first encounter with the power of human milk happened shortly after the birth of her first son, Kase.
Earlier this year, Kimberly reached out to our in-house lactation consultant, Amanda, because she was having difficulty breastfeeding. Every time her baby latched on, it was very painful for Kimberly. In addition, she had concerns about her baby’s weight gain.
Megan and Mac’s baby boy, Matthew, was born earlier than they had anticipated. When he arrived at 33 weeks, Matthew went straight to the NICU at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
We frequently walk alongside grieving parents. Many mothers connect with us after the tragic loss of their babies to donate breastmilk to help others.
September is NICU Awareness Month. We are so grateful for Eliza, who reached out to us to share her NICU story and how donor milk was an integral part of her son’s recovery and an extraordinary way for her to help others.
“Donating means sharing thousands of pieces of me to perfect strangers I will never meet, for their best start…[Donating has] provided me with the ability to make a difference in the fragile lives of premature newborns, and educate myself about all things breastmilk.”
When Frances started breastfeeding after her baby received donor milk in the NICU, she ended up with an excess supply of breastmilk and decided to give back.
