Donating Breast Milk

[Stacie]

Has anyone ever done this before? I'm considering doing it. There is no place local that does it so I'd have to ship it. But all the shipping fees and storage containers are paid for.

[KarenP]

I have received but not donated. Good for you!! How much do you have? I think the rules are pretty strict on labeling/dating and keeping it in a deep freeze sort of freezer. But that is just what I recall, I could be totally off base! Even if you can't find an official milk bank to go through, I bet some local midwives could help you find a mama in need.

[Stacie]

I haven't started storing yet. But the baby has just started sleeping through the night some times so I have a surplus in the mornings and it would be easy for me to pump and collect it for donation.

[Stacie]

I did the preliminary questionnaire. I'll know in the next 2 weeks if I have been approved. I am so excited!

[KarenP]

Cool!

[Melanie]

Let us know what you find out.

[missing]

I have, but only privately.

The only milk bank in Canada is out in BC (I'm in Ontario), and the donating mom has to pay for all containers, shipping, dry ice, etc out of pocket.

[miche]

That's great that you are donating!

I have twice lived by a milk bank, in CA and now not too far from the Denver one. Sadly I haven't been able to donate. I was almost approved back when Tommy was a newborn. They didn't want my drugged post-c-section milk, but I weaned off the drugs and kept everything labeled nicely and was ready to go when I ended up in the hospital again and on more pain meds. After that it was just too much for me to commit to with the added stress and then PPD. :(

Now I could probably pump plenty, but I'm on meds that they don't want again. It's a shame because I have an oversupply. *sigh*