redlipz, to donate to a NICU I have to get screened by the donor bank, have blood work taken (they pay for it) and be willing to commit at least 100 ounces. The milk get a dropped off at a bank location and they send it to a processing plant for pasteurization. From there it is distributed to the NICUs they partner with, including the NICU at the hospital where I delivered. So it is a bit of a process.
The other option I have is a local group that arranges it for moms in need, but none of that milk is pasteurized and they take your milk on an "as is" basis. They do try to screen donors. I'm not doing that one as it seems ripe for problems arising.
I think even La Leche League uses a commercial donor bank if you go through them, but I haven't looked into it in detail.
ETA: we posted at the same time, looks like you have your info!
Widget123 it's funny you mention body builders, there's a website to sell and donate breastmilk and no joke, there's men buying it AND there's even some wanting someone to WET NURSE!
mrsmonogrammed you have to go through some screenings to donate to hospitals. I really wouldn't sell it, just knowing I could help another baby is more than enough payment for me. Not only that, but it's illegal in California to sell breastmilk.
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
Holy crap, how do you find the time to pump all that?! Jealous!
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
Holy crap, how do you find the time to pump all that?! Jealous!
I pump once after the first morning feed (around 9am) and once at night after the last feed (around 10pm). It's really freaking annoying to pump so often but last time I would skip pumping sessions here or there and it totally screwed up my supply. The actual pumping only takes about 5 minutes, it's quick. The cleaning of the parts takes the longest! Every time I sit down to pump I just tell myself how much money we will save if I don't have to buy any formula this time and that's my greatest motivator!
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
I am freezing about 6 oz a day right now too. I think the ladies who don't plan to use it it's because of how our milk changes over time to meet babies needs at their certain age. So they plan to only use current milk for their baby and donate extra, rather than stash it. I still stash and use mine. If all goes well my plan is to keep nursing when we're together up to at least a year old. I pump at work, make bottles for the next day and freeze the extra. Eventually I will have a stash big enough so that I can stop pumping at work, use the stash to make bottles, but keep nursing morning and night. Then he still gets the current milk from nursing, so I'm ok with the bottles being from older milk. That's what I did with DD2, I hope to do the same this time. I stopped nursing her at a year, but it still took until 17 months to use up my freezer stash. I figure it's still beneficial even if it's not current milk.
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
I am freezing about 6 oz a day right now too. I think the ladies who don't plan to use it it's because of how our milk changes over time to meet babies needs at their certain age. So they plan to only use current milk for their baby and donate extra, rather than stash it. I still stash and use mine. If all goes well my plan is to keep nursing when we're together up to at least a year old. I pump at work, make bottles for the next day and freeze the extra. Eventually I will have a stash big enough so that I can stop pumping at work, use the stash to make bottles, but keep nursing morning and night. Then he still gets the current milk from nursing, so I'm ok with the bottles being from older milk. That's what I did with DD2, I hope to do the same this time. I stopped nursing her at a year, but it still took until 17 months to use up my freezer stash. I figure it's still beneficial even if it's not current milk.
This is exactly what I'm hoping to do too! LO is still with me at work every day but soon he will start to stay home a couple times a week. How many times do you pump at work? Last time I pumped twice but I wasn't getting enough to make up for the bottles he was consuming while away from me. Totally the reason I'm stashing all the extra milk now. Currently LO is eating one bottle of my frozen stash a day and I'm still working through the transitional milk from very early on. billyhorrible suggested I mix some of the newer milk with it, so that's what I've been doing.
Holy crap, how do you find the time to pump all that?! Jealous!
I pump once after the first morning feed (around 9am) and once at night after the last feed (around 10pm). It's really freaking annoying to pump so often but last time I would skip pumping sessions here or there and it totally screwed up my supply. The actual pumping only takes about 5 minutes, it's quick. The cleaning of the parts takes the longest! Every time I sit down to pump I just tell myself how much money we will save if I don't have to buy any formula this time and that's my greatest motivator!
Are you washing your parts every time? You know you can keep them in the fridge and not wash them every time. Right now since I'm only pumping once a day I keep them in the fridge for 3-4 days before I wash them. In theory they're ok in the fridge for as long as milk would be ok in the fridge, so 3-7 days. I just wipe them with a paper towel and keep them in a ziplock bag. Also having 2 sets of parts helps, so that there is a clean set available to grab and use when needed.
I am freezing about 6 oz a day right now too. I think the ladies who don't plan to use it it's because of how our milk changes over time to meet babies needs at their certain age. So they plan to only use current milk for their baby and donate extra, rather than stash it. I still stash and use mine. If all goes well my plan is to keep nursing when we're together up to at least a year old. I pump at work, make bottles for the next day and freeze the extra. Eventually I will have a stash big enough so that I can stop pumping at work, use the stash to make bottles, but keep nursing morning and night. Then he still gets the current milk from nursing, so I'm ok with the bottles being from older milk. That's what I did with DD2, I hope to do the same this time. I stopped nursing her at a year, but it still took until 17 months to use up my freezer stash. I figure it's still beneficial even if it's not current milk.
This is exactly what I'm hoping to do too! LO is still with me at work every day but soon he will start to stay home a couple times a week. How many times do you pump at work? Last time I pumped twice but I wasn't getting enough to make up for the bottles he was consuming while away from me. Totally the reason I'm stashing all the extra milk now. Currently LO is eating one bottle of my frozen stash a day and I'm still working through the transitional milk from very early on. billyhorrible suggested I mix some of the newer milk with it, so that's what I've been doing.
I haven't gone back to work yet, but when I do I will probably pump twice at work. That's what I've don't in the past and it's worked for me. Plus in the morning before work and at night before bed. Right now I'm just pumping in the morning and to replace a feed for any bottle he gets, which has only been one so far, but we need to start doing one a day so he can get used to the bottle before I go back to work.
I pump once after the first morning feed (around 9am) and once at night after the last feed (around 10pm). It's really freaking annoying to pump so often but last time I would skip pumping sessions here or there and it totally screwed up my supply. The actual pumping only takes about 5 minutes, it's quick. The cleaning of the parts takes the longest! Every time I sit down to pump I just tell myself how much money we will save if I don't have to buy any formula this time and that's my greatest motivator!
Are you washing your parts every time? You know you can keep them in the fridge and not wash them every time. Right now since I'm only pumping once a day I keep them in the fridge for 3-4 days before I wash them. In theory they're ok in the fridge for as long as milk would be ok in the fridge, so 3-7 days. I just wipe them with a paper towel and keep them in a ziplock bag. Also having 2 sets of parts helps, so that there is a clean set available to grab and use when needed.
Another set of parts would be amazing!! I did keep them in the fridge between feeds at work but I don't really do that at home. I don't know why not, I should start!
How many reapplication of deodorant are acceptable before you finally break down and are able to take a 2 minute shower? Haha. Smidge is definitely going through a growth spurt and eating/sleeping for myself are much more of a priority.
Wow veggiemo, only 5 minutes?? I guess I really do have a low supply, it takes me 25-30 min to get 2-3 oz. what pump do you use?
Ugh, that is so frustrating I've been there, which is why I've been so adamant about not skipping sessions and hoarding all my extra milk this time. So far so good, I just hope it lasts. I have the Avent pump.
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
veggiemo my supply is so much better with the second child too. If I pump for 10 minutes I can get 8+ oz. I think I've been freezing about 12-18 oz a day? Hence the need for another freezer. I don't think I'm going to need all that milk necessarily, but I'm hesitant to slow the pace or commit to donating yet because I will have a new boss shortly after I return to work and he/she may not be as lenient with pumping as my current boss was, even though legally they have to let me pump to some extent.
ETA my LO has been gaining 1.5-2oz per day via our baby scale, so I'm not worried about a fore milk/hind milk imbalance.
I also have been refrigerating and reusing parts like tulips114. But since I use sterilization bags and a microwave sterilizer, plus the dishwasher every few days, cleaning is really quick and NBD.
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
veggiemo my supply is so much better with the second child too. If I pump for 10 minutes I can get 8+ oz. I think I've been freezing about 12-18 oz a day? Hence the need for another freezer. I don't think I'm going to need all that milk necessarily, but I'm hesitant to slow the pace or commit to donating yet because I will have a new boss shortly after I return to work and he/she may not be as lenient with pumping as my current boss was, even though legally they have to let me pump to some extent.
ETA my LO has been gaining 1.5-2oz per day via our baby scale, so I'm not worried about a fore milk/hind milk imbalance.
YES! And my LO has been gaining like an absolute champ as well, which is quite the reversal from DS1. We had to go in for weight checks for what seemed like forever with him and this LO surpassed birth weight before a week. It's so much better this time around, I can't even tell you. So glad you are having a good experience too, we deserve it!
It's almost 3 pm. Just realized I forgot to eat today. Um what. This is new to me.
Better eat now, before J wakes up from his nap, otherwise it could be hours before I get a chance.
There's a reason I have so many protein bars around sometimes that's all I can get down between feedings and naps (my naps...). Sometimes I don't have more than a few minutes to change him, feed him, change him again (half the time) and do a bathroom run for me before I feel like it starts all over...
For those of you pumping, when did you start? N is 3 weeks old and I was thinking of trying to add a pumping session in the am. I don't go back to work until Nov but would like a stash so I can eventually leave him with DH or my sister.
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
I haven't committed to donating yet. I want to get through the 3 week growth spurt and see how much extra I am pumping, if I have to pump. I am more comfortable doing it this time though because I am a SAHM which helps immensely with continuing bfing long term and with DS1, I had to pump for my own comfort due to oversupply and ended up throwing out 500+ ounces. I'd rather not do that this time. I also will always have a stash on hand so if my supply starts to diminish, I can stop donating. I'd just rather donate this time than let it go bad.
Where are all of our regulars these days? I feel like we need to do some call outs. I miss the familiar faces, even though I'm loving that new people are out to play.
I have a huge stash of breast milk in the freezer-I sort of became a hoarder because last time I didn't have enough. I pump an extra 8-10oz a day so our freezer is full! How do you donating ladies already know you're not going to need it?
veggiemo my supply is so much better with the second child too. If I pump for 10 minutes I can get 8+ oz. I think I've been freezing about 12-18 oz a day? Hence the need for another freezer. I don't think I'm going to need all that milk necessarily, but I'm hesitant to slow the pace or commit to donating yet because I will have a new boss shortly after I return to work and he/she may not be as lenient with pumping as my current boss was, even though legally they have to let me pump to some extent.
ETA my LO has been gaining 1.5-2oz per day via our baby scale, so I'm not worried about a fore milk/hind milk imbalance.
normal weight gain is 1/2-1 oz a day, so if baby is gaining that much a day and hou can pump extra 12-18 oz a day, you have WOW a huge oversupply. just be careful, you are early on so oversupply seems great now, but it may come with gi upset for baby and increases your risk of mastitis.
It's almost 3 pm. Just realized I forgot to eat today. Um what. This is new to me.
Better eat now, before J wakes up from his nap, otherwise it could be hours before I get a chance.
There's a reason I have so many protein bars around sometimes that's all I can get down between feedings and naps (my naps...). Sometimes I don't have more than a few minutes to change him, feed him, change him again (half the time) and do a bathroom run for me before I feel like it starts all over...
For those of you pumping, when did you start? N is 3 weeks old and I was thinking of trying to add a pumping session in the am. I don't go back to work until Nov but would like a stash so I can eventually leave him with DH or my sister.
It's best to wait until after the 3 week growth spurt settles down to begin pumping, about once a day, usually first thing in the am when supply tends to be highest works best for most moms. Then once that gets working well, build your stash slow and steady and intro a bottle. if you give a bottle, pump to replace that milk.
I've been pumping about 12+ oz a day as well. I feed from one and pump from the other at bedtime feeding then again at 5am when she wakes to eat then again at 9ish
I get about 3 ounces after two pumping sessions (15 minutes each) if I'm lucky. :/
I have been washing my pump parts daily but I do store them in the fridge between pumps. I have an extra set of parts since they gave me some at the hospital for their pump. Definitely recommend that!
O didn't poop yesterday at all, but was extremely gassy all day. She just spent 10 minutes trying to poop while I pushed her legs into her chest to help her. She was crying real tears the entire time. I cried too. It breaks my heart to see her in pain
Post by carolyngrace on Jul 15, 2015 14:28:55 GMT -5
DB went from taking 3-hr naps during the day to barely making it an hour. And of course DH is home today and keeps saying "where are these epic naps you claim he takes?" He had a crappy night sleep too, so I'm hoping it's just temporary.
mcp6286 @jemomma Thank you ladies! She did end up pooping. The pedi had told me before that if her poop is a thicker consistency than play doh then that's when to be concerned. It was right at that consistency.. way thicker than it has been before. I called the nurse line and she said to wait it out a few days to see if it corrects on it's own, but if it's stays that consistency for 3 days, they consider that true constipation and will give her something to help. Poor baby. She's been extremely fussy and gassy since then. Oh and @jemomma, how you suggested is exactly how I helped her
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