Would anyone like my surplus breastmilk? Post Reply

[Fisherprice]

Unfortunately I had a rocky breastfeeding experience. My daughter couldn't latch and I was diagnosed with milk supply problems.

So while we were trying to get baby to latch I started pumping to get milk for her and boost my supply. As it turned out I didn't have a milk supply issue, just a lot of stress!

I'm a certain personality and so when faced with this challenge I gave myself a goal of 3 months of pumping before I gave up. And I got myself educated on milk supply so that I could try and turbo boost my supply to an extent that I could get extra to allow me to give her bottled breastmilk a bit longer after I stopped pumping. Cue lots of lactation consultants and googling.

As luck should have it, my baby latched in week 9 and I was so successful with my pumping that I ended up with a freezer full of breastmilk that I have no chance of ever getting through (approx 300 bags/30 litres)

I was going to offer it to someone in my nct group but they have all made their own arrangements now. I'm also not looking to donate to milk banks as I don't want to keep pumping and they won't do the tests without a longer term commitment. I contemplated selling it on onlythebreast but I've heard stories about it being full of scammers so don't want to deal with that.

I'm not sure if there would be any interest, but It was excruciatingly difficult getting this milk and I can't bring myself to throw it away. It's also cost me a fortune to get so I dont want it to go to waste.

I'd be happy to be tested for any particular nasties or have a sample of the milk checked although I wouldn't personally want to incur this cost myself as I've already spent way more than I'd like. If you'd like the milk and you want any tests done let me know and we can explore how it is done.

I'm also happy to answer any questions for anyone interested in taking it. Obvious one that jumps out is lifestyle so just to preempt that question - I'm mid 30's non smoker, non drinker, no health issues and have been taking the Pregnacare Breastfeeding vitamins with Omega the entire time I've been pumping. I eat like a normal person so a mix of healthy and not so healthy.

If anyone otherwise has questions on boosting supply then also feel free to message me as I'm happy to share my personal experience, plus the combined knowledge I got from LCs and researching. I found it incredibly frustrating how much misinformation was out there so happy to help if I can. I must emphasise though that I'm not a qualified lactation consultant myself and to be honest the advice I'd probably give in most cases is to just switch to formula because our babies need a happy mum more than they need breastmilk.

[Fisherprice]

Annabel I accidentally posted this twice. Can we please delete one? Thanks!

[erinisle22]

I know you said no milk banks but they may be happy to just accept a one off donation. I received this email from the charity coordinator from First Touch a week or two ago - it would be worth a phone call, if you are happy to chat to someone.

St George's Hopsital Milk Bank is currently looking for donations of milk which are vital to help the sick and premature babies on its neonatal unit. If you would like to become a milk donor or have any expressed milk in your freezer (muts have been in freezer less than 3 months and your baby must not have begun weaning at the time it was expressed) please contact the Milk Bank nurses on 020 8725 4723/0265 (please note you may have to leave a message)

For further information on St George's Milk Bank please visit: http://www.first-touch.org.uk/you-and-y ... _bank.html

[Fisherprice]

Thanks for the tip erinisle22. I got my info about milk banks from these forums so if it's wrong then that would be ideal.

[erinisle22]

The being able to accept already expressed frozen milk is a new thing since I advertised for them last (I volunteer with local NCT). I know they have a pretty state of the art pasteuriser now (and stocks are pretty low) so they are keen for donations. Louise said that the nurses that man the milk bank phone are often busy and can take a few days to get back to you so it is worth some perseverance if you have the time to do so.

[Wizard1]

Definitely try St George's milk bank - they usually consider testing for one-off donations if there is sufficient quantity and 30 litres is quite substantial - a quarter of what they might expect in a year. The main concerns they have are about the temperature it has been stored at and if it is older than 3 months. The tests are very straightforward blood tests. They have an ansaphone and do get back to you within a couple of days. Feel free to PM me if you want more info - I've donated to them in the past.

[Abbyfromoz]

Hi! Just thought I would suggest you join the fb group 'Human Milk for Human Babies - UK'
You can connect with local mums in need of breast milk
For their babies (often in desperate need due to health conditions etc).

[kcbh27]

I have sent you an email.

Warmly,

KC

[rinkydink]

Good luck with this, as someone mentioned St George's pasteurise the milk, I used to donate milk and had a blood test for HIV, I am not sure what else but that was very straightforward. The most difficult thing was getting the frozen milk to them.

[kcbh27]

I would really like the milk if it is still available. Please get in touch!

Thank you!

KC

[edsouthlondon]

My oldest daughter is almost 23 - I used to freeze my surplas milk when she was breastfeeding and freeze then donate to St George's milk bank, so I don't think their accepting frozen breastmilk is that recent!
I think it's a very worthwhile, and relatively easy thing to do if you do have surplas milk - it also means the milk is properly screened before being given to needy babies.
Good Luck!