I have two children and had an oversupply of breast milk with both. I decided to donate with my first child because I simply did not want to waste it. However, only after my second child was born, did I truly understand and appreciate the...
When I had my daughter, I was a floor nurse. Never having a consistent break or even a full break, I lost my supply only a month after returning to work from maternity leave. I quickly learned how the financial burden hits of having to...
My daughter Avery was born premature at 32 weeks. Upon my admittance to the hospital at a little over 28 weeks pregnant, I was informed of the opportunity to elect donor breast milk for our baby if it would be needed if I was unable...
My son was born prematurely at 23 weeks 6 days. He received some donor milk initially until I started producing to supply his needs. Unfortunately he passed away at 18 days old. Since he was so small, he did not take a lot of milk....
I've always been lucky to make a lot of milk and pump much more than my babies eat during a typical work day. With my first child, however, we lived elsewhere and there was no easily accessible milk bank. I also fell into the trap...
My son and I were so fortunate to be able to share breastmilk with other babies in need. I was a lucky "over producer" from day one and quickly began to run out of freezer space. I knew that milk donation existed from working in...
The Washington Post (May 19, 2022) - As the formula shortage continues to roil the United States, many parents are desperate for other sources of nutrition for their infants. Milk banks, where humans donate their own breast milk to be pasteurized and stored for someone else’s...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (May 16, 2022) - When Shannon Waldschmidt, 38, of West Deer, saw on Facebook that her friend was desperately searching for a particular type of formula for her 8-month-old son, she and other moms sprang into action to help her track it down. Pittsburgh-area...
Fox 43 (May 12, 2022) - YORK, Pa. — Amid a national infant formula shortage, photos of 20th century home infant formula recipes are inundating social media. Pediatricians warn parents against trying them. “Formula today has many different nutrients that really cannot be duplicated with home recipes,”...
At 35w 6d gestation, I had a placental abruption and The Starfish was born 29 days early. She spent a week in the NICU at Tampa General Hospital, where she received donor milk while we were waiting for my milk to come in. Even though...