Since donating to the Mother's Milk Bank at Austin (MMBA), I've been receiving their newsletter that they send out periodically. One of the great things about the newsletter is that they often include status reports of moms they've helped, donors they've approved, etc. It's nice to look at milk donation on this level and see what's going on. It's one of the few ways we can. Since milk-sharing is not regulated or controlled, there is virtually no way to count it and keep stats. This is good and bad. It means we don't know how many moms are in need, how many of those moms are getting help, how many moms there are out there helping, etc.
So, let's take a look at some of the numbers we can look at from one of the 13 HMBANA (Human Milk Banking Association of North America) milk banks.
21 - the number of states where MMBA ships milk
90 - the number of hospitals that MMBA serves
20 - the percent of milk donated to MMBA from the Houston area
20 - the percent of milk processed at MMBA that returns to serve Houston area hospitals
484 - the number of donors approved in 2012 (as of the date of publication)
In addition to those numbers, there is one more
5 - the number of HMBANA milk banks in development
While these numbers are wonderful, I can't help but be slightly saddened. In my mind, it's still not even remotely close to being enough. According to the CDC, about 1 in 8 babies is born premature. While not all babies will need donor milk, a lot do. Often, more than one donor is needed to feed a single baby, and considering that many babies continue to need donor milk after they leave the hospital to their first year after birth or longer, and the number of term babies that need donor milk, it starts to get really daunting. MMBA has even recently sent out a notice on their Facebook page describing how their freezers were empty. With no milk, they can't help babies in need. These babies will either have to receive milk from other milk banks, if it's available, or try to make it off of formula.
With hard work, more exposure to milk banking, recruiting more donors, and educating moms on breastfeeding, the demand can be lessened. One day, we may be to a point where the needs are all met, but for now, we just must spread the word and do what we can to facilitate moms and babies in need.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Down the Drain...
The other day, I did something truly depressing. I dumped milk down the drain.
To many people, this isn't a big deal at all, but breastfeeding moms, and especially those feeding donated milk, feel a twinge of pain in the gut when they hear this. It's sad. Terribly sad. That milk could have fed some super cute and needy babies.
In my case, that milk was part of a small stash I saved for my little one just in case we needed it when he was young. It was hanging out in my freezer for over a year. In a regular freezer, which this was, milk is good up to 3-4 months. Likely closer to 4 in mine since we keep it so cold, but regardless, 12 mo. is a far cry from four, so it was time for it to go. It's just that as a breastfeeding mom, it's hard to toss, even when it's been long expired.
Here's the kicker though, as a milk donor, this makes me feel a bit irresponsible. I really could have planned better, and had I had some forethought, I likely never would have been wasted. What I should have done, and what I'd suggest to any mom that pumps, for whatever reason, is to manage your stash and rotate stock. It'll avoid waste and hopefully help someone in the process.
If your stash is looking too big, or you have some milk that you may not be using in the next couple of months or so, see if there is a way to donate it. Pump some off to replenish your personal stash and donate the earlier milk to somewhere or someone where there is a higher likelihood of it being used. It's completely understandable to have milk as back-up. I'd recommend it to most breastfeeding moms because I'm just the type to want to plan for everything (though my execution is often lacking). By rotating your stock, you are sure to stretch the usefulness of your personal stash and you can help others. If your stash is larger and you get up to 100 oz., you can donate to a milk bank (more or less depending on their guidelines). The bank I donated to took 100 oz. as a minimum for only your first donation and after that you could bring as much or as little as you had. Every little bit counts, so if you brought in that first 100, then maintained a freezer stash of 20-25 oz., you could rotate every so often so you have the freshest supply and donate the milk that is still within date, but then it can go someplace where it will get used before it goes bad. If you find a local mom that can use it, they typically don't have minimums and will take any amount you have to give, so that's a great option to consider.
Now, a plan like this doesn't always work out, for example, I have some milk I pumped when I got sick a few times. That milk I saved for myself and wouldn't give to anyone but my own kid who was already exposed to the illness and antibodies through nursing during the illness. Certainly, that milk will stay in my stash until it expires. In most cases though, rotating your stash is a great option and doesn't take a huge commitment in many cases. Every little bit helps. You can be sure those babies appreciate it.
To many people, this isn't a big deal at all, but breastfeeding moms, and especially those feeding donated milk, feel a twinge of pain in the gut when they hear this. It's sad. Terribly sad. That milk could have fed some super cute and needy babies.
 |
| Oh, how very depressing... |
Here's the kicker though, as a milk donor, this makes me feel a bit irresponsible. I really could have planned better, and had I had some forethought, I likely never would have been wasted. What I should have done, and what I'd suggest to any mom that pumps, for whatever reason, is to manage your stash and rotate stock. It'll avoid waste and hopefully help someone in the process.
If your stash is looking too big, or you have some milk that you may not be using in the next couple of months or so, see if there is a way to donate it. Pump some off to replenish your personal stash and donate the earlier milk to somewhere or someone where there is a higher likelihood of it being used. It's completely understandable to have milk as back-up. I'd recommend it to most breastfeeding moms because I'm just the type to want to plan for everything (though my execution is often lacking). By rotating your stock, you are sure to stretch the usefulness of your personal stash and you can help others. If your stash is larger and you get up to 100 oz., you can donate to a milk bank (more or less depending on their guidelines). The bank I donated to took 100 oz. as a minimum for only your first donation and after that you could bring as much or as little as you had. Every little bit counts, so if you brought in that first 100, then maintained a freezer stash of 20-25 oz., you could rotate every so often so you have the freshest supply and donate the milk that is still within date, but then it can go someplace where it will get used before it goes bad. If you find a local mom that can use it, they typically don't have minimums and will take any amount you have to give, so that's a great option to consider.
 |
| The aftermath |
Monday, August 27, 2012
Obtaining Liquid Gold
Among mamas that find it extremely important to feed breastmilk to their baby but have difficulty nursing themselves, there is a big problem: Access.
Sad to say, many moms do not have access to donated milk, or they don't know how to gain that access.
Among many health professionals, the only substitute for mamas own milk is milk from a milk bank. The reason for this is because milk obtained from a milk bank is screened and pasteurized for safety. Breastmilk is considered to be "living" because it has many live components like antibodies and beneficial bacteria. As a result, it is highly susceptible to spoilage and is a wonderful site for more "bad" bacteria to grow and thrive. Because this is obviously dangerous to a young baby, pasteurization is used to decrease the risk of pathogens that could cause illness in a baby. While the elevated temperatures required to pasteurize the milk may destroy some nutritious components, it's not enough to make it non-nutritious and still contains many more nutritive and health promoting factors that make it far superior to any formula.
The issue with obtaining milk from a milk bank is two-fold: limited supply and cost. The sickest, tiniest babies and those with the greatest need for it are given preference for receipt of the donated milk. This is certainly as it should be. A full term baby is much more likely to grow and do decently well on formula, whereas preemies in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) are at a much larger risk of diseases, especially necrotizing enterocolitis, which literally will kill off the lining of the digestive tract which then can lead to death. In many cases, obtaining a prescription for donated milk is reserved for those in most dire need. Given our advanced medicine today, many immature babies are able to survive when born earlier and earlier in the gestation process and therefore, the demand for human milk is growing as these babies are at the highest risk for infection. This means even less available for otherwise healthy full-term babies. Assuming a parent can obtain a prescription for milk from a milk bank, cost then becomes a limiting factor. Many insurance companies may not pay for human milk, and those that do may limit the amount they will pay for. Given that the milk can cost about $4 an ounce, parents may not be able to afford to give it to their child for any extended period of time.
There are fortunately, a few solutions to the above listed problems. First, donors, donors, donors! There almost certainly will never come a time when milk banks tell mamas they no longer need donors. More donors can certainly ease the lack of supply to support the demand for milk through milk banks. Second, moms may consider milksharing. Milksharing is obtaining donated milk directly from another mama. Certainly, there may be risks associated with feeding donated milk that has not been screened or pasteurized; however, through open communication, those risks may be minimized. There are many milksharing organizations out there that connect potential donors and recipients. Donors may either donated to a milk bank or via milksharing or both depending on their preferences and comfort level.
No matter the method, mamas can obtain this liquid gold for their babies. It's a matter of asking the right questions and knowing their options.
Sad to say, many moms do not have access to donated milk, or they don't know how to gain that access.
Among many health professionals, the only substitute for mamas own milk is milk from a milk bank. The reason for this is because milk obtained from a milk bank is screened and pasteurized for safety. Breastmilk is considered to be "living" because it has many live components like antibodies and beneficial bacteria. As a result, it is highly susceptible to spoilage and is a wonderful site for more "bad" bacteria to grow and thrive. Because this is obviously dangerous to a young baby, pasteurization is used to decrease the risk of pathogens that could cause illness in a baby. While the elevated temperatures required to pasteurize the milk may destroy some nutritious components, it's not enough to make it non-nutritious and still contains many more nutritive and health promoting factors that make it far superior to any formula.The issue with obtaining milk from a milk bank is two-fold: limited supply and cost. The sickest, tiniest babies and those with the greatest need for it are given preference for receipt of the donated milk. This is certainly as it should be. A full term baby is much more likely to grow and do decently well on formula, whereas preemies in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) are at a much larger risk of diseases, especially necrotizing enterocolitis, which literally will kill off the lining of the digestive tract which then can lead to death. In many cases, obtaining a prescription for donated milk is reserved for those in most dire need. Given our advanced medicine today, many immature babies are able to survive when born earlier and earlier in the gestation process and therefore, the demand for human milk is growing as these babies are at the highest risk for infection. This means even less available for otherwise healthy full-term babies. Assuming a parent can obtain a prescription for milk from a milk bank, cost then becomes a limiting factor. Many insurance companies may not pay for human milk, and those that do may limit the amount they will pay for. Given that the milk can cost about $4 an ounce, parents may not be able to afford to give it to their child for any extended period of time.
There are fortunately, a few solutions to the above listed problems. First, donors, donors, donors! There almost certainly will never come a time when milk banks tell mamas they no longer need donors. More donors can certainly ease the lack of supply to support the demand for milk through milk banks. Second, moms may consider milksharing. Milksharing is obtaining donated milk directly from another mama. Certainly, there may be risks associated with feeding donated milk that has not been screened or pasteurized; however, through open communication, those risks may be minimized. There are many milksharing organizations out there that connect potential donors and recipients. Donors may either donated to a milk bank or via milksharing or both depending on their preferences and comfort level.
No matter the method, mamas can obtain this liquid gold for their babies. It's a matter of asking the right questions and knowing their options.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Milk Donation Dilemma - Part V
The Cost of Donor Human Milk
In previous posts in this series, we've discussed some of the many impressions people have about donor human milk. Now, we'll visit another major concern about milk and if this concern is truly something to worry about - the cost of donor human milk.
Many mamas would love to give their baby human milk rather than supplement or entirely feed formula due to a number of reasons. Perhaps the baby has difficulty digesting the formula, maybe the mom prefers to feed breastmilk because it's safer for babies and allows them to grow to their full potential. Whatever the reason, a major drawback that moms mention is that milk obtained from a milk bank is very expensive. Depending on the source of the milk, this is a valid concern.
Human milk obtained from a milk bank can run around $4 per oz. That means that a baby that takes in 18 oz per day (the amount taken in by a 6.5 lb preemie as reported by Mothers' Milk Bank of Austin) will cost his or her parents over $2000 per month. That's not really pocket change. The cost of the milk in many cases isn't even a matter of wanting to gouge parents for all they are worth. Many milk banks like Mothers' Milk Bank are non-profit. The cost of milk covers the processing, donor support, staff, and bills. They don't make a profit so the price is set to cover costs, not make money. This can be incredibly burdensome for some parents as feeding 24-36 oz (the amount a bottle fed full term baby eats in about a day) could run a whopping $17,000-$25,000+ to exclusively feed their baby breastmilk for the first 6 months of life if obtained from a milk bank. And that's if they don't inadvertently overfeed their baby which is a serious risk for bottle fed babies. Granted, when they start introducing solids, the total intake of milk may decrease, therefore saving the parents money for the rest of the child's first year or as long as they choose to continue feeding breastmilk thereafter.
So, what's a parent to do if they can't provide all the breastmilk their baby requires, but still want to feed breastmilk? Well, certainly, if they can afford the cost, they may be able to obtain a prescription for the milk and pay for it themselves. Alternately, some insurance companies may help cover the costs, but this is much more likely in situations where the baby is in the NICU at which point, insurance companies may cut funding after the baby is sent home. However, there are babies that require a prescription because they can't handle formula for a medical reason and therefore insurance may still be an option. I'd assume these situations are few and far between, though I don't have the statistics on it to offer accurate numbers and factoids.
When milk obtained through a milk bank proves to be too expensive, moms have the option to obtain milk from mom-to-mom donations, or milk-sharing, the "black market" of breastmilk, if you will. Milk-sharing, is made possible through groups like Human Milk 4 Human Babies, Eats on Feets, and MilkShare which are organizations that help connect donor and recipient families and education people on "informal milk-sharing." Moms that are connected to donors through this avenue are not typically required to pay for the milk they receive, although, there are some that choose to charge moms for their time invested in pumping extra milk. Often recipient moms will offer to cover costs of supplies like pump part and attachment cleaning supplies and collection bags to help defray the costs that the donor must put forth in order to donate milk. Typically, these arrangements are agreed upon by the individuals involved, but usually, there is no requirement for payment. In the cases where the recipient pays or helps cover pumping costs, the amount is significantly less than a mom would pay for milk from a milk bank.
There is another option depending on your situation and where the milk is obtained. Some milk banks, like Mothers' Milk Bank of Austin, have programs for those in need. These programs help provide human milk to babies in the NICU regardless of a parents ability to pay if insurance doesn't cover it. Unfortunately, for this option, there has to be a need for the milk. Qualifying for the program may be limited as well.
The point then is this. Yes, donor human milk can be expensive if it is obtained from a milk bank. Fortunately, that's not the only option for moms hoping to supplement with or entirely feed donated human milk. Regardless of where the milk comes from, moms need to be aware of their options so they can research them and make the best decision for their family.
For more posts in this series visit:
Part I - The Importance of Breastmilk
Part II - The Availability of Donated Milk
Part III - Bodily Fluids
Part IV - Safety and Nutrient Content of Donated Milk
In previous posts in this series, we've discussed some of the many impressions people have about donor human milk. Now, we'll visit another major concern about milk and if this concern is truly something to worry about - the cost of donor human milk.
Many mamas would love to give their baby human milk rather than supplement or entirely feed formula due to a number of reasons. Perhaps the baby has difficulty digesting the formula, maybe the mom prefers to feed breastmilk because it's safer for babies and allows them to grow to their full potential. Whatever the reason, a major drawback that moms mention is that milk obtained from a milk bank is very expensive. Depending on the source of the milk, this is a valid concern.
Human milk obtained from a milk bank can run around $4 per oz. That means that a baby that takes in 18 oz per day (the amount taken in by a 6.5 lb preemie as reported by Mothers' Milk Bank of Austin) will cost his or her parents over $2000 per month. That's not really pocket change. The cost of the milk in many cases isn't even a matter of wanting to gouge parents for all they are worth. Many milk banks like Mothers' Milk Bank are non-profit. The cost of milk covers the processing, donor support, staff, and bills. They don't make a profit so the price is set to cover costs, not make money. This can be incredibly burdensome for some parents as feeding 24-36 oz (the amount a bottle fed full term baby eats in about a day) could run a whopping $17,000-$25,000+ to exclusively feed their baby breastmilk for the first 6 months of life if obtained from a milk bank. And that's if they don't inadvertently overfeed their baby which is a serious risk for bottle fed babies. Granted, when they start introducing solids, the total intake of milk may decrease, therefore saving the parents money for the rest of the child's first year or as long as they choose to continue feeding breastmilk thereafter.So, what's a parent to do if they can't provide all the breastmilk their baby requires, but still want to feed breastmilk? Well, certainly, if they can afford the cost, they may be able to obtain a prescription for the milk and pay for it themselves. Alternately, some insurance companies may help cover the costs, but this is much more likely in situations where the baby is in the NICU at which point, insurance companies may cut funding after the baby is sent home. However, there are babies that require a prescription because they can't handle formula for a medical reason and therefore insurance may still be an option. I'd assume these situations are few and far between, though I don't have the statistics on it to offer accurate numbers and factoids.
When milk obtained through a milk bank proves to be too expensive, moms have the option to obtain milk from mom-to-mom donations, or milk-sharing, the "black market" of breastmilk, if you will. Milk-sharing, is made possible through groups like Human Milk 4 Human Babies, Eats on Feets, and MilkShare which are organizations that help connect donor and recipient families and education people on "informal milk-sharing." Moms that are connected to donors through this avenue are not typically required to pay for the milk they receive, although, there are some that choose to charge moms for their time invested in pumping extra milk. Often recipient moms will offer to cover costs of supplies like pump part and attachment cleaning supplies and collection bags to help defray the costs that the donor must put forth in order to donate milk. Typically, these arrangements are agreed upon by the individuals involved, but usually, there is no requirement for payment. In the cases where the recipient pays or helps cover pumping costs, the amount is significantly less than a mom would pay for milk from a milk bank.There is another option depending on your situation and where the milk is obtained. Some milk banks, like Mothers' Milk Bank of Austin, have programs for those in need. These programs help provide human milk to babies in the NICU regardless of a parents ability to pay if insurance doesn't cover it. Unfortunately, for this option, there has to be a need for the milk. Qualifying for the program may be limited as well.
The point then is this. Yes, donor human milk can be expensive if it is obtained from a milk bank. Fortunately, that's not the only option for moms hoping to supplement with or entirely feed donated human milk. Regardless of where the milk comes from, moms need to be aware of their options so they can research them and make the best decision for their family.
For more posts in this series visit:
Part I - The Importance of Breastmilk
Part II - The Availability of Donated Milk
Part III - Bodily Fluids
Part IV - Safety and Nutrient Content of Donated Milk
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Milk Donation Dilemma - Part IV
Safety and Nutrient Content of Donated Milk
Continuing on with my forum post inquiring about whether or not non-nursing mamas considered or used donated milk, I saw this concern come up among one of the top concerns posed by moms. Many moms responded that they knew about milk donation but said they wouldn't take breastmilk from someone when they didn't know what that person's diet or medication habits were or what their disease status was. These all sound like very reasonable concerns, but let me try to calm some fears with rational thinking.
Breastfeeding is a conscious decision in most cases. A mom that breastfeeds their child is concerned about the well-being of the baby. It is unlikely that a mom who breastfeeds (or any mom for that matter) would want to do harm to her own child. Her breastmilk that is fed to her own baby is affected by her life decisions and disease status. The chances of her taking in something that could cause harm to her own child or nursing with a potentially harmful disease that could pass to her child are low.
But what about diet? Should a mom be concerned about the overall nutrient value of the milk she feeds her baby? Despite the low probability of a mom taking on medications that could harm the baby, diet is quite another thing. Not all moms eat well, even well meaning moms. Most of us fall into the habit of eating fast food once or more per week. Should this be a concern? It sounds logical, but surprisingly, the answer is, "No." The body has an amazing way of making sure that breastmilk has the appropriate amount of nutrients to grow a baby regardless of the diet of the mom. According to KellyMom, among other sources, the mother's own system is more likely to take a hit from nutritional deficiencies than her milk. Just like in pregnancy, the mother's body does all it can to provide for the baby, even if that means taking from the mom's own stores. Prenatal vitamins are for the health of the mom, not the growth of the baby. The same goes for breastfeeding. Eating well and ensuring proper nutrient intake while nursing helps the mom to stay healthy and put back into her body what is taken in the production of milk. This is one of the many reasons that in the third world it is not uncommon for young children to continue to nurse far beyond infancy because breastmilk is far more nutritious than the limited amount of food they may have access to. Regardless of the diet taken in by the mom, you can rest assured that the milk she donates is nutritious.
To add more fuel to the fire, despite the small possibility that a mom may take a medication that is not recommended during breastfeeding, it is important to think about the caliber of woman that pumps milk. A mom that pumps milk is so concerned about her own baby's health that she is wanting to provide her milk for her baby even when she is away. Either that or she's pumping to help her supply to be able to provide more of her own milk than supplement. Regardless of the main reason, a mom that pumps is doing so to ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship with her baby. That's how important it is to her. She is conscientious enough to pump and that concern is likely to affect other areas of her life in the decisions she makes about diet (even though it may not directly affect her milk) and the medications she takes. Pumping takes time and effort. No mom that pumps takes the activity lightly. This care and concern is passed along when a mom chooses to donate. Additionally, there are two types of donors - those that donate extra milk they can no longer use and those that pump extra for donation purposes. A mom that donates extra milk she has stored intended that milk for her own child but in finding she is unable to use it sees such a high value to that milk, that she won't just throw it away - that is how precious it is. A mom that pumps extra for donation is taking extra time out of her day that she may not otherwise take to pump for another person - someone who cares that much for another mom is only thinking of helping and supporting other moms and she will ensure the milk she donates is just as safe and healthful as the milk for her own child since her own child is nursing as well.
While illnesses and disease status may be of concern with donated milk, there are a few ways to address this possibility. An open an honest dialogue with a potential donor may present a situation that a recipient mom is not comfortable with; however, as long a good communication is maintained, these concerns may be addressed and likely, through the donation process the moms will become friends and trust will be built. Another option is receiving milk from a milk bank where the milk has been screened and pasteurized. While some feel the pasteurization decreases nutrient content, the nutrient alteration is negligible and a recipient mom can rest assured that the milk is free from harmful bacteria (although, at the same time, it's free from beneficial bacteria as well, so that is something the mom needs to be aware of).
The bottom line, is that a mom that donates is likely a person of high standards of care for he own child and a very caring individual. She cares enough to nurse her own child and on top of that, pumps to either nurture her own child or help someone in need. Pumping and donating is not malicious or negligent. It is a true gift from a caring individual who values the gift as much as the mom who receives it.
For the next part in the series, click here: Part V - The Cost of Donor Human Milk
Please see other entries into this series Milk Donation Dilemma:
Part I - The Importance of Breastmilk
Part II - The Availability of Donated Milk
Part III - Bodily Fluids
Continuing on with my forum post inquiring about whether or not non-nursing mamas considered or used donated milk, I saw this concern come up among one of the top concerns posed by moms. Many moms responded that they knew about milk donation but said they wouldn't take breastmilk from someone when they didn't know what that person's diet or medication habits were or what their disease status was. These all sound like very reasonable concerns, but let me try to calm some fears with rational thinking.
Breastfeeding is a conscious decision in most cases. A mom that breastfeeds their child is concerned about the well-being of the baby. It is unlikely that a mom who breastfeeds (or any mom for that matter) would want to do harm to her own child. Her breastmilk that is fed to her own baby is affected by her life decisions and disease status. The chances of her taking in something that could cause harm to her own child or nursing with a potentially harmful disease that could pass to her child are low.
But what about diet? Should a mom be concerned about the overall nutrient value of the milk she feeds her baby? Despite the low probability of a mom taking on medications that could harm the baby, diet is quite another thing. Not all moms eat well, even well meaning moms. Most of us fall into the habit of eating fast food once or more per week. Should this be a concern? It sounds logical, but surprisingly, the answer is, "No." The body has an amazing way of making sure that breastmilk has the appropriate amount of nutrients to grow a baby regardless of the diet of the mom. According to KellyMom, among other sources, the mother's own system is more likely to take a hit from nutritional deficiencies than her milk. Just like in pregnancy, the mother's body does all it can to provide for the baby, even if that means taking from the mom's own stores. Prenatal vitamins are for the health of the mom, not the growth of the baby. The same goes for breastfeeding. Eating well and ensuring proper nutrient intake while nursing helps the mom to stay healthy and put back into her body what is taken in the production of milk. This is one of the many reasons that in the third world it is not uncommon for young children to continue to nurse far beyond infancy because breastmilk is far more nutritious than the limited amount of food they may have access to. Regardless of the diet taken in by the mom, you can rest assured that the milk she donates is nutritious.To add more fuel to the fire, despite the small possibility that a mom may take a medication that is not recommended during breastfeeding, it is important to think about the caliber of woman that pumps milk. A mom that pumps milk is so concerned about her own baby's health that she is wanting to provide her milk for her baby even when she is away. Either that or she's pumping to help her supply to be able to provide more of her own milk than supplement. Regardless of the main reason, a mom that pumps is doing so to ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship with her baby. That's how important it is to her. She is conscientious enough to pump and that concern is likely to affect other areas of her life in the decisions she makes about diet (even though it may not directly affect her milk) and the medications she takes. Pumping takes time and effort. No mom that pumps takes the activity lightly. This care and concern is passed along when a mom chooses to donate. Additionally, there are two types of donors - those that donate extra milk they can no longer use and those that pump extra for donation purposes. A mom that donates extra milk she has stored intended that milk for her own child but in finding she is unable to use it sees such a high value to that milk, that she won't just throw it away - that is how precious it is. A mom that pumps extra for donation is taking extra time out of her day that she may not otherwise take to pump for another person - someone who cares that much for another mom is only thinking of helping and supporting other moms and she will ensure the milk she donates is just as safe and healthful as the milk for her own child since her own child is nursing as well.
While illnesses and disease status may be of concern with donated milk, there are a few ways to address this possibility. An open an honest dialogue with a potential donor may present a situation that a recipient mom is not comfortable with; however, as long a good communication is maintained, these concerns may be addressed and likely, through the donation process the moms will become friends and trust will be built. Another option is receiving milk from a milk bank where the milk has been screened and pasteurized. While some feel the pasteurization decreases nutrient content, the nutrient alteration is negligible and a recipient mom can rest assured that the milk is free from harmful bacteria (although, at the same time, it's free from beneficial bacteria as well, so that is something the mom needs to be aware of).
The bottom line, is that a mom that donates is likely a person of high standards of care for he own child and a very caring individual. She cares enough to nurse her own child and on top of that, pumps to either nurture her own child or help someone in need. Pumping and donating is not malicious or negligent. It is a true gift from a caring individual who values the gift as much as the mom who receives it.
For the next part in the series, click here: Part V - The Cost of Donor Human Milk
Please see other entries into this series Milk Donation Dilemma:
Part I - The Importance of Breastmilk
Part II - The Availability of Donated Milk
Part III - Bodily Fluids
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Milk Donation Dilemma - Part III
Bodily Fluids
This is part III in my discussion of problems faced by the milk donation community in response to the replies I received when posing a question about moms' opinions of the use of donated human milk. In this portion, I will discuss the repeated concern expressed (no pun intended, or maybe it was) regarding milk as a bodily fluid.
Many mamas on the mom networking site where I posed my inquiry that did not nurse their child(ren), responded that they were not interested in donated milk because they didn't want to be handling someone else's bodily fluid. In today's society, there is a concern about diseases passing via bodily fluids such as urine and blood. To a lesser extent, there seems to be a mild concern with saliva as well. And feces certainly can be a source of disease and contamination, though not typically a fluid. I apologize if this is taking a rather unsavory turn. In any case, it stands to reason that along with other body fluids that are known or suspected to be of concern, breastmilk would fall into that same category causing concern for many moms.
Here's the thing though. Breastmilk is not considered a bodily fluid. This may come as a surprise to many, but it's true. Here is a response taken from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) website's Frequently Asked Questions regarding the handling of breastmilk:
So, what does this tell us? Well, healthcare and daycare workers don't need to worry about special handling of breastmilk. Gloves can be worn, but it is not necessary in most cases, when preparing and feeding breastmilk. The bottom line is that breastmilk does not fall into the same category as other bodily fluids as many may believe.
This is part III in my discussion of problems faced by the milk donation community in response to the replies I received when posing a question about moms' opinions of the use of donated human milk. In this portion, I will discuss the repeated concern expressed (no pun intended, or maybe it was) regarding milk as a bodily fluid.
Many mamas on the mom networking site where I posed my inquiry that did not nurse their child(ren), responded that they were not interested in donated milk because they didn't want to be handling someone else's bodily fluid. In today's society, there is a concern about diseases passing via bodily fluids such as urine and blood. To a lesser extent, there seems to be a mild concern with saliva as well. And feces certainly can be a source of disease and contamination, though not typically a fluid. I apologize if this is taking a rather unsavory turn. In any case, it stands to reason that along with other body fluids that are known or suspected to be of concern, breastmilk would fall into that same category causing concern for many moms.
Here's the thing though. Breastmilk is not considered a bodily fluid. This may come as a surprise to many, but it's true. Here is a response taken from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) website's Frequently Asked Questions regarding the handling of breastmilk:
Are special precautions needed for handling breast milk?
CDC does not list human breast milk as a body fluid for which most healthcare personnel should use special handling precautions. Occupational exposure to human breast milk has not been shown to lead to transmission of HIV or HBV infection. However, because human breast milk has been implicated in transmitting HIV from mother to infant, gloves may be worn as a precaution by health care workers who are frequently exposed to breast milk (e.g., persons working in human milk banks).
For additional information regarding Universal Precautions as they apply to breast milk in the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B infections, visit the following resources:
For additional information regarding Universal Precautions as they apply to breast milk in the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B infections, visit the following resources:
- Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings. MMWR June 24, 1988, 37(24):377–388.
- CDC. Recommendations for prevention of HIV transmission in health-care settings. MMWR1987, 36 (supplement no. 2S):1–18S.
The full list of FAQs can be found here (though they are not all concerning the handling of breastmilk).
So, what does this tell us? Well, healthcare and daycare workers don't need to worry about special handling of breastmilk. Gloves can be worn, but it is not necessary in most cases, when preparing and feeding breastmilk. The bottom line is that breastmilk does not fall into the same category as other bodily fluids as many may believe.
Despite the status of not being a bodily fluid, there still is the possibility of transmitting disease as discussed by the CDC's website. Because of this, many health professionals would recommend that if you do use donated human milk, it is best to obtain that milk via a milk bank where the donors are screened for transmissible diseases and the milk has been pasteurized. This is one way to ensure that disease is not passed along to a young infant. Many moms do take comfort, however, in using milk donated privately if they know the donor personally. In such cases, they are likely aware of any health concerns there may be in regards to the donor and their decision to use the milk. While it does pose risks not seen when milk is obtained via a milk bank, there is less uncertainty in regards to knowing exactly from whom the milk is coming. Either way, the milk certainly is not a bodily fluid.
Continue on to the next part of the Milk Donation Dilemma Series:
Part IV - Safety and Nutrient Content of Donated Milk
Part IV - Safety and Nutrient Content of Donated Milk
If you missed previous entries, they can be found here:
Friday, June 15, 2012
Milk Donation Dilemma - Part II
The Availability of Donated Milk
"I didn't know donated milk was available./I didn't know that people did that./It wasn't available back when I had a baby."
I mentioned before that I recently put up a post on a mom forum inquiring about milk donation and what mamas thought about it. This is Part II of a series of discussions about responses and why we have a lot of work to do when it comes to donating milk.
One of the big problems surrounding milk donation is lack of knowledge and education about it's existence. Many mamas responded in one of the ways listed above. It appears, we aren't talking about it enough.
I'm not sure how to get the word out other than how I'm doing it. I talk about it, I blog about it, I have a Facebook page about it. I think if people who know about it talk about it, the word will spread. We have to share our experiences though. If we don't, no one will hear about it.
Milk donation has changed a lot over the years, and yes, it's been around a while. I can't say for how long, but certainly most of us have heard of wet nurses - women that nursed other women's babies for a variety of reasons. I can't say for sure how long donation of expressed milk has been happening. What I do know is that my mom donated when two of my sisters were babies. The older one is now 37 years old, so at least for that long. Probably longer. My mom said bottles were dropped at her house and she'd fill them up. Opposite of the milk man, is how she describes it. They'd pick up the full bottles and leave the empty ones.
Back then, they approached my mom about it. She hadn't heard of it before that point either. I'm not sure that nursing was any more popular in those days, but now, if you want to donate, you have to seek out the information. And to do that, you have to know about it first.
So, for all you expectant moms. Yes, donated milk is available. There are a couple different channels you can go through, but it is there. Yes, people do it. They do it out of the kindness of their own hearts. For many it's a matter of not wanting to waste or throw out a stash of milk they no longer need that is taking up freezer space. For others, it is a labor of love as they take the time to pump extra milk specifically for the purpose of donating. Finally, yes, it was available "back then." Though this time period is vague, it is likely that many mamas that have children over the age of 37 may not be as internet savvy, and perhaps don't have accounts on mom forums; but, that means that the majority of moms that responded probably had babies in a time period where I know for a fact milk donation was available.
Please spread the word. Let mamas know they have options.
See the next post in this series, Part III - Bodily Fluids
If you missed Part I of this series, it can be found here.
"I didn't know donated milk was available./I didn't know that people did that./It wasn't available back when I had a baby."
I mentioned before that I recently put up a post on a mom forum inquiring about milk donation and what mamas thought about it. This is Part II of a series of discussions about responses and why we have a lot of work to do when it comes to donating milk.
One of the big problems surrounding milk donation is lack of knowledge and education about it's existence. Many mamas responded in one of the ways listed above. It appears, we aren't talking about it enough.
I'm not sure how to get the word out other than how I'm doing it. I talk about it, I blog about it, I have a Facebook page about it. I think if people who know about it talk about it, the word will spread. We have to share our experiences though. If we don't, no one will hear about it.
Milk donation has changed a lot over the years, and yes, it's been around a while. I can't say for how long, but certainly most of us have heard of wet nurses - women that nursed other women's babies for a variety of reasons. I can't say for sure how long donation of expressed milk has been happening. What I do know is that my mom donated when two of my sisters were babies. The older one is now 37 years old, so at least for that long. Probably longer. My mom said bottles were dropped at her house and she'd fill them up. Opposite of the milk man, is how she describes it. They'd pick up the full bottles and leave the empty ones.
Back then, they approached my mom about it. She hadn't heard of it before that point either. I'm not sure that nursing was any more popular in those days, but now, if you want to donate, you have to seek out the information. And to do that, you have to know about it first.
So, for all you expectant moms. Yes, donated milk is available. There are a couple different channels you can go through, but it is there. Yes, people do it. They do it out of the kindness of their own hearts. For many it's a matter of not wanting to waste or throw out a stash of milk they no longer need that is taking up freezer space. For others, it is a labor of love as they take the time to pump extra milk specifically for the purpose of donating. Finally, yes, it was available "back then." Though this time period is vague, it is likely that many mamas that have children over the age of 37 may not be as internet savvy, and perhaps don't have accounts on mom forums; but, that means that the majority of moms that responded probably had babies in a time period where I know for a fact milk donation was available.
Please spread the word. Let mamas know they have options.
See the next post in this series, Part III - Bodily Fluids
If you missed Part I of this series, it can be found here.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Milk Donation Dilemma - Part I
The Importance of Breastmilk
There exists such a thing called the "Infant Feeding Hierarchy" that lists the preferred methods of infant feeding in order based on how suitable the feeding method is to feed and nurture an infant optimally. Interestingly enough, there seem to be multiple lists available. Here are a few examples:
There exists such a thing called the "Infant Feeding Hierarchy" that lists the preferred methods of infant feeding in order based on how suitable the feeding method is to feed and nurture an infant optimally. Interestingly enough, there seem to be multiple lists available. Here are a few examples:
The one most commonly listed is cited as the World Health Organization Hierarchy of Infant Feeding and is as follows:
1. Breastfeeding directly from the mother
2. Expressed milk from the mother
3. Expressed, screened/pasteurized human donor milk from a milk bank
4. Formula
Other lists are available too. Here are a few:
1. Breastfeeding directly from the mother
2. Expressed milk from the mother
3. Wet nurse/cross-nursing
4. Expressed milk from another mother
5. Formula
1. Breastfeeding directly from the mother
2. Expressed milk from the mother
3. Expressed human donor milk from another mother
4. Formula
There are many considerations when looking at these lists that may need more attention and could be the source of varying the list depending on your angle. Given that breastmilk changes according to the baby's needs when they are feed directly at the breast, it could be argued that a wet nurse is a better choice than mama's expressed milk. Some argue that since pasteurization destroys many nutrients in milk, that raw milk is superior. Still others will tell you that screened and pasteurized donor milk is safer if the mom is unable to breastfeed because there is more assurance that the baby will not contract illnesses from another mother. In reality, the discussions can go back and forth and the exact order of the list can vary, but in the end, one fact remains the same:
Breastmilk. If not, formula.
But in seeing that, this is where we run into trouble. Most people think it looks like this:
Nurse. If not, formula.
And in that, we have an error.
The bottom line is that scientifically, breastmilk is superior to formula, no matter the source. Mothers need to know that breastmilk is the best choice. Sure, nursing is ideal, but if you can't nurse, breast milk. From you, from someone else, whatever. Breastmilk. If you feel more comfortable about screenings and pasteurization or if you feel more comfortable about fully intact nutrients (taking into account that regardless of being raw, storage - ie. refrigeration/freezing - can have an effect on nutrient content), breastmilk. Donor milk is available, no matter where your comfort level lies. We need to spread the word.
In the next few posts in my series, Milk Donation Dilemma, I will address many responses given to me when I inquired on a mom forum about knowledge, education, and thoughts on donated milk. Some answers surprised me. At times it was the percentages of moms that responded in particular manners. Either way, I feel the responses need to be addressed. So, here goes...
Continue to Part II in this series.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Getting the word out...
I recently started a Facebook page to continue to get the word out about milk donation. I'm hoping to build a community via social networking. I'm not trying to set up milk sharing, as there are several organizations for that. I want to get the word out, inform, and educate.
I recently made a post on a mom networking site that asked for peoples thoughts and opinions on milk donation and the answers were varied and very enlightening. Over several blog posts, I hope to address several of the responses I received to my inquiry.
There is still a lot of work to do to get the word out. For now, check out my Facebook page here.
I recently made a post on a mom networking site that asked for peoples thoughts and opinions on milk donation and the answers were varied and very enlightening. Over several blog posts, I hope to address several of the responses I received to my inquiry.
There is still a lot of work to do to get the word out. For now, check out my Facebook page here.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A matter of perspective
Not too long ago, my oldest brother and his family were over for dinner. It's no secret to most people that are close to me that I'm a milk donor and the topic came up. As we discussed it, my brother asked how much I had donated, jokingly asking if I had been able to collect a couple gallons. I let him know it was more than that and the last count to date from the milk bank was about 3800 ounces. "What's that?" He asks as he pulls out his phone with it's handy calculator. "Divide by 128," I tell him (this is the number of ounces in a gallon). As he calculates it up and sees the result, he practically chokes on his food and sheepishly puts his phone away with an approving nod. "How much is it?" his wife inquires. "About 30 gallons," he responds.
Now, this sounds like a lot, and it is. Imagine thirty gallons of milk. This is not hard to do since many of us have milk in our homes and even if we don't, often we can recognize how much a gallon is. 30 of those is a lot. It is something I am proud of. When I consider this journey, I look at what I have been able to collect, and it's a good amount (and growing). I certainly do acknowledge that this is a significant amount, and not everyone will be able to contribute this. Although, from what I've been told by the milk bank, some donors have even contributed far more! Though tempting to make a competition out of this, I really can't. All I can do is keep doing what I'm doing. The final number doesn't really matter. What matters is that I'm giving.
And here's some more perspective to consider. In a previous post, I described how in one week, the milk bank was short 3000 ounces. That's not the total amount requested in a week, that's just what they couldn't provide. I don't know how much they actually did provide or the total amount requested. What I do know is that the amount they were short was almost the entire amount that I had donated over 8.5 mo. Yes, my 30 gallons, used in a week's time, and then some. 8.5 mo of "work" gone, just like that. So, while it seems like a lot, it really is just a blip compared to the demand.
Assuming that most donors don't offer up 30 gallons over their time donating, it makes it especially important that more donors come forth. A minimum donation for my milk bank is 100 ounces. 30 moms making this minimum donation will equal that 3000 that the milk bank was short for that week. The higher likelihood is that donor moms are able to donate more, like between 150 and 200 ounces and that means that 20 moms can fill that demand or that those same 30 could offer up 4500-6000 ounces. See how big of a difference that is? Every little bit helps.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
"Booby Traps" in the NICU and How Donor Milk Can Help
I recently read an article from a great site, Best for Babes, that discussed challenges to breastfeeding that moms encounter when their baby must spend time in the NICU. The article was one of many in a series that brings to light societal challenges to breastfeeding that almost leave breastfeeding moms defenseless and defeated. In any case, one of the NICU challenges the article discussed mentions lack of donor milk.
The lack of milk available in NICUs is multi-facited. Some hospitals don't offer donated milk at all forcing moms of fragile babies to depend on artificial feeding if she experiences difficulty or is not allowed to provide milk herself via nursing or pumping. Some hospitals offer donated milk, but it may not be a feasible option if the patient's insurance does not cover the cost (despite the fact that treating illnesses that donated milk can help fight could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in comparison). Only a few hospitals provide donated milk (if the mother can't/doesn't provide it) regardless of insurance (at cost to the hospital) but typically this is based on the gestational age of the preemie. Fortunately this number of hospitals is growing, but it is still very low. The cost of donated milk itself can be daunting if insurance refuses to pay for it. Donated milk can cost $3-4 per ounce. That means if parents choose donated milk regardless of the insurance company's refusal to pay, parents could spend $16-60 PER DAY their baby is in the NICU. Depending on the age and development of the baby, that could be several months worth of milk. In addition, physically having the adequate quantity needed on hand to provide to babies is necessary as well, which is a huge concern considering that over the past several weeks, the milk bank I donate to was several thousand ounces short of requested milk. They physically could not supply what was needed by the hospitals they provide milk for.
Certainly, it is up to the administrations of individual hospitals to determine if they will make donor milk available to their patients, but likely lack of supply could be a leading factor in the decision. Obviously, one of the biggest contributing factors to helping babies thrive in the NICU is encouraging and supporting the moms to breastfeed and pump for their infants. Donor milk can help fill in the gaps to protect these babies from life-threatening diseases. The more moms that are willing to become donors and the more milk that is donated will help relieve some of the stress on hospitals meaning they have more to provide to their patients. If these hospitals are able to receive adequate supplies, perhaps more hospitals could be served by milk banks, helping more babies.
It's a lot of pressure when the big picture is examined, but every ounce counts - in more ways than one, and every donor can help new moms break free from a very common "booby trap."
The lack of milk available in NICUs is multi-facited. Some hospitals don't offer donated milk at all forcing moms of fragile babies to depend on artificial feeding if she experiences difficulty or is not allowed to provide milk herself via nursing or pumping. Some hospitals offer donated milk, but it may not be a feasible option if the patient's insurance does not cover the cost (despite the fact that treating illnesses that donated milk can help fight could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in comparison). Only a few hospitals provide donated milk (if the mother can't/doesn't provide it) regardless of insurance (at cost to the hospital) but typically this is based on the gestational age of the preemie. Fortunately this number of hospitals is growing, but it is still very low. The cost of donated milk itself can be daunting if insurance refuses to pay for it. Donated milk can cost $3-4 per ounce. That means if parents choose donated milk regardless of the insurance company's refusal to pay, parents could spend $16-60 PER DAY their baby is in the NICU. Depending on the age and development of the baby, that could be several months worth of milk. In addition, physically having the adequate quantity needed on hand to provide to babies is necessary as well, which is a huge concern considering that over the past several weeks, the milk bank I donate to was several thousand ounces short of requested milk. They physically could not supply what was needed by the hospitals they provide milk for.Certainly, it is up to the administrations of individual hospitals to determine if they will make donor milk available to their patients, but likely lack of supply could be a leading factor in the decision. Obviously, one of the biggest contributing factors to helping babies thrive in the NICU is encouraging and supporting the moms to breastfeed and pump for their infants. Donor milk can help fill in the gaps to protect these babies from life-threatening diseases. The more moms that are willing to become donors and the more milk that is donated will help relieve some of the stress on hospitals meaning they have more to provide to their patients. If these hospitals are able to receive adequate supplies, perhaps more hospitals could be served by milk banks, helping more babies.
It's a lot of pressure when the big picture is examined, but every ounce counts - in more ways than one, and every donor can help new moms break free from a very common "booby trap."
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Milk Shortages - How it All Adds Up
I recently received an e-mail update/newsletter from the milk bank i work with that described continued shortages of donor milk. The situation is so dire that they describe being short by several thousand ounces PER WEEK of the demand of the hospitals they work with. This situation is so bad, they are starting to offer incentives for referring donor moms.
To put things into perspective, let's look at how this divides up. They listed a shortage of 3000 ounces for this week. A baby weighing 6.5 lbs takes in 18 ounces per day. That amount that they are short could feed 166 babies in a day, or one baby for 166 days, or 5 babies for a month. Now take into consideration that most preemies that receive this milk are much smaller than 6.5 lbs and take in less milk. Think how far that amount goes. Or look at it and consider how desperate the need really is.
You may ask what the big deal is when formula is available. Well, the truth is, formula is inadequate. Babies in general stand the best fighting chance from receiving breastmilk to keep them healthy and protect them from pathogens. As many moms know hospitals and doctors offices can pose risks to young children with little or no immune system because that's where other children go to be treated for illnesses. Combine that with a pre-mature baby whose system isn't as developed as it should be and you aren't just dealing with a new immune system, but the whole body that is developmentally behind. Preemies are especially susceptible to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which basically equates to death of their intestinal tract. The longer babies are kept in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) the longer they are at risk for getting NEC and the higher the mortality rate. The goal is to get babies as healthy as possible in the shortest amount of time possible so they can go home as soon as possible. The fastest way to do this is to feed breastmilk to these babies. Sadly, in many cases the early birth of the baby often doesn't allow the mother's system to catch up hormonally so she is making milk as she would with a full term baby. Also, given the need for the babies to be monitored and restricted from potentially harmful pathogens, these babies don't get the full benefits of skin to skin contact and unlimited access to the breast which also can inhibit optimum milk production for the mama. This means that donor milk is the preemies' best chance of getting to a healthy weight and developmentally mature enough to go home in the shortest amount if time (not to mention the immune components of breastmilk that help form a protective barrier from NEC).
Lives can be saved from donor milk, but if it is unavailable, in cases where the birth mom is unable to provide milk, formula must be used. This means the preemies may remain in the NICU for longer and don't have the added protection from NEC because formula cannot provide any immune components. Donors are vitally important. Spread the word to healthy nursing mamas you know that may be able to help. A little can go a long way.
To put things into perspective, let's look at how this divides up. They listed a shortage of 3000 ounces for this week. A baby weighing 6.5 lbs takes in 18 ounces per day. That amount that they are short could feed 166 babies in a day, or one baby for 166 days, or 5 babies for a month. Now take into consideration that most preemies that receive this milk are much smaller than 6.5 lbs and take in less milk. Think how far that amount goes. Or look at it and consider how desperate the need really is.
You may ask what the big deal is when formula is available. Well, the truth is, formula is inadequate. Babies in general stand the best fighting chance from receiving breastmilk to keep them healthy and protect them from pathogens. As many moms know hospitals and doctors offices can pose risks to young children with little or no immune system because that's where other children go to be treated for illnesses. Combine that with a pre-mature baby whose system isn't as developed as it should be and you aren't just dealing with a new immune system, but the whole body that is developmentally behind. Preemies are especially susceptible to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which basically equates to death of their intestinal tract. The longer babies are kept in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) the longer they are at risk for getting NEC and the higher the mortality rate. The goal is to get babies as healthy as possible in the shortest amount of time possible so they can go home as soon as possible. The fastest way to do this is to feed breastmilk to these babies. Sadly, in many cases the early birth of the baby often doesn't allow the mother's system to catch up hormonally so she is making milk as she would with a full term baby. Also, given the need for the babies to be monitored and restricted from potentially harmful pathogens, these babies don't get the full benefits of skin to skin contact and unlimited access to the breast which also can inhibit optimum milk production for the mama. This means that donor milk is the preemies' best chance of getting to a healthy weight and developmentally mature enough to go home in the shortest amount if time (not to mention the immune components of breastmilk that help form a protective barrier from NEC).
Lives can be saved from donor milk, but if it is unavailable, in cases where the birth mom is unable to provide milk, formula must be used. This means the preemies may remain in the NICU for longer and don't have the added protection from NEC because formula cannot provide any immune components. Donors are vitally important. Spread the word to healthy nursing mamas you know that may be able to help. A little can go a long way.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Freezer Stash
My deep freeze is not typical. Most people have meat and other foods. My deep freeze? It has milk. Ok, sure, it has some of those other things too, but more space is taken up in my freezer by pumped milk than any other item. I have a collection of bagged milk for my own use. In addition, I have rows of containers for the milk bank. Granted, they are constantly rotated as I drop off donations every 3-4 weeks, but it certainly takes up space.
If you are planning on donating, don't be daunted by the space it may take up. There are many things you can do. First, you don't need a deep freeze. A regular freezer is just fine, but you'll need to make sure that your samples are taken in more frequently. Remember, they have to be able to receive and process your milk before it expires. A deep freeze simply allows you to collect more at a time since you can hold onto it longer. The initial donation (at least for the milk bank I work with) is 100 oz. That equals out to about 20-30 storage containers depending on the size. The good thing about smaller containers is that they fit in more nooks and crannies making this a pretty easy task. After your initial donation, you don't have to worry about quantity and you can just make a donation when the milk starts taking up too much space.
After a couple months, you'll begin to start a system of how the containers all fit and where they "go" in your freezer. You'll figure out how to maximize space and how often you'll need to drop off your donations. You develop a system and the more you do it, the more routine it becomes. Happy freezing!
 |
| About 4 gallons waiting to be donated. I usually don't let it build up this much, but my freezer is often stack two high on this shelf. =) |
After a couple months, you'll begin to start a system of how the containers all fit and where they "go" in your freezer. You'll figure out how to maximize space and how often you'll need to drop off your donations. You develop a system and the more you do it, the more routine it becomes. Happy freezing!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Low Yield in My Region
Several weeks ago, I dropped off a donation the the drop site in my area for the milk bank. After waiting for a nutrition profile to be sent to me and not seeing it, I began to get worried that there was either a problem with my sample or it hadn't made it to the milk bank. I sent out an e-mail inquiring about it. Later that day, I received a phone call and got some disturbing news.
No, there wasn't anything wrong with my milk. They actually had picked up some donations the day I had dropped mine off, but they hadn't received mine - I probably dropped it off after they had been there and left. What was disturbing was what the representative told me about picking up the milk in general.
My drop site is one of three in the Houston area. Over the two week period spanning from the time I last made a donation (and the last time they picked up milk) to the phone conversation I was having, only 700 oz. was being reported for pick up in the entire Houston area. More than half of that was mine. That means that in that two week period, one donor was providing 68% of the milk being reported for pick up.
I was shocked and appalled and felt like the weight of the world was upon me. How was it possible that the amount collected in a two week period from the largest city in the second largest state in the US was so low and most of it came from one mom? After a further conversation with the representative, I was assured that it was a particularly low time. A normal pick up occurs roughly every 10-14 days and anywhere from 1000-3000 oz. is normally collected. Though better, that still doesn't seem like enough. And it's not. There is a huge demand and not enough donors.
Though I technically am not "carrying the city," I kind of feel like I am. I want to do something, I want to get the word out. I want to pump more in what little time I have before my little one turns one year old and I can no longer donate. The low point is not over. When I made my most recent donation, it seemed like a similar issue. The log book where we "sign in" our donation was still on the same page from my last two visits. We need to rally mamas now to help those fragile babies if they can. A small amount from a bunch of moms can make a huge difference.
No, there wasn't anything wrong with my milk. They actually had picked up some donations the day I had dropped mine off, but they hadn't received mine - I probably dropped it off after they had been there and left. What was disturbing was what the representative told me about picking up the milk in general.
My drop site is one of three in the Houston area. Over the two week period spanning from the time I last made a donation (and the last time they picked up milk) to the phone conversation I was having, only 700 oz. was being reported for pick up in the entire Houston area. More than half of that was mine. That means that in that two week period, one donor was providing 68% of the milk being reported for pick up.
I was shocked and appalled and felt like the weight of the world was upon me. How was it possible that the amount collected in a two week period from the largest city in the second largest state in the US was so low and most of it came from one mom? After a further conversation with the representative, I was assured that it was a particularly low time. A normal pick up occurs roughly every 10-14 days and anywhere from 1000-3000 oz. is normally collected. Though better, that still doesn't seem like enough. And it's not. There is a huge demand and not enough donors.
Though I technically am not "carrying the city," I kind of feel like I am. I want to do something, I want to get the word out. I want to pump more in what little time I have before my little one turns one year old and I can no longer donate. The low point is not over. When I made my most recent donation, it seemed like a similar issue. The log book where we "sign in" our donation was still on the same page from my last two visits. We need to rally mamas now to help those fragile babies if they can. A small amount from a bunch of moms can make a huge difference.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Scheduling Pumping
In a recent mom group meeting one of the moms noticed that my baby was wearing a body suit that had been sent to me from the milk bank with their logo and slogan on it. On seeing it, she seemed to express concern about how pumping would work with scheduling if she did it, especially now that she has two young kiddos.
As many moms know, pumping with one little one is difficult enough. Moms that work rarely can depend on only the milk they pump while they are away from their baby. This pumping's primary purpose is to maintain milk production while away from the baby rather than provide the amount the baby would consume in that same time. It's well known that pumps are far from being as efficient as a baby at emptying the breast. A mom that works often must pump at home too, which may or may not cause scheduling conflicts when it comes to time with the baby. Add another munchkin into the mix and you can understand the difficulty.
When figuring out how pumping for the milk bank was going to work out for me, I had to consider my current schedule and how our typical day goes with both my toddler and my baby. I found that the easiest way to work in pumping was at times when my precious kiddos were either asleep or otherwise occupied and it has work out well so far.
In a normal day, I pump three times a day. I pump in the morning while my toddler is eating breakfast. He's typically pretty occupied with his breakfast and with the help of a little bit of children's television programming (which usually is all the TV he watches in a day), I'm able to keep him distracted enough so that he doesn't interfere or get too curious with the pump components. With the baby, I usually do one of two things. I can either place him in a bouncy seat close by (which now has become letting him play on the floor nearby now that he's a crawler) or nurse him on one side while pumping on the other. My mid-day pumping session occurs while the toddler takes a nap. Again, the baby is either nursing or playing nearby. If I'm really lucky, he's napping too. At nighttime, I typically wait until both boys are sleeping and take that opportunity to pump. With this schedule, I take advantage of times when the children don't need my undivided attention and they are less likely to be getting into things they shouldn't or hurting themselves while I'm "tied down." It allows me a reasonable amount of pumping. I occasionally add a second pumping session in the evenings, but it isn't part of my normal "routine."
I would say that for anyone interested in pumping for donation, this is an ideal way to approach pumping realistically. While we all want to feel like supermom, it's not always realistic. Each of us has obligations and our children and families must come first. When donating, it can be hard to set limits, but it really is to everyone's benefit. We (or at least I know I do) want so hard to make a big impact, donate all we can to help those little babes that depend on our contributions, but we have to be honest with ourselves and what is realistic. The best thing to do is look at a normal day and see when down times are. Those are the times to work in an extra pumping. Making sure we are taking care of our children and families (and of course, ourselves) is our first priority. Without that, pumping won't happen and those babes won't benefit at all, or significantly less. It is possible to work it in with multiple kids without your family suffering as a result, it's just a matter of finding the times that work best for you and setting realistic scheduling goals.
Happy pumping!
As many moms know, pumping with one little one is difficult enough. Moms that work rarely can depend on only the milk they pump while they are away from their baby. This pumping's primary purpose is to maintain milk production while away from the baby rather than provide the amount the baby would consume in that same time. It's well known that pumps are far from being as efficient as a baby at emptying the breast. A mom that works often must pump at home too, which may or may not cause scheduling conflicts when it comes to time with the baby. Add another munchkin into the mix and you can understand the difficulty.
When figuring out how pumping for the milk bank was going to work out for me, I had to consider my current schedule and how our typical day goes with both my toddler and my baby. I found that the easiest way to work in pumping was at times when my precious kiddos were either asleep or otherwise occupied and it has work out well so far.
In a normal day, I pump three times a day. I pump in the morning while my toddler is eating breakfast. He's typically pretty occupied with his breakfast and with the help of a little bit of children's television programming (which usually is all the TV he watches in a day), I'm able to keep him distracted enough so that he doesn't interfere or get too curious with the pump components. With the baby, I usually do one of two things. I can either place him in a bouncy seat close by (which now has become letting him play on the floor nearby now that he's a crawler) or nurse him on one side while pumping on the other. My mid-day pumping session occurs while the toddler takes a nap. Again, the baby is either nursing or playing nearby. If I'm really lucky, he's napping too. At nighttime, I typically wait until both boys are sleeping and take that opportunity to pump. With this schedule, I take advantage of times when the children don't need my undivided attention and they are less likely to be getting into things they shouldn't or hurting themselves while I'm "tied down." It allows me a reasonable amount of pumping. I occasionally add a second pumping session in the evenings, but it isn't part of my normal "routine."
I would say that for anyone interested in pumping for donation, this is an ideal way to approach pumping realistically. While we all want to feel like supermom, it's not always realistic. Each of us has obligations and our children and families must come first. When donating, it can be hard to set limits, but it really is to everyone's benefit. We (or at least I know I do) want so hard to make a big impact, donate all we can to help those little babes that depend on our contributions, but we have to be honest with ourselves and what is realistic. The best thing to do is look at a normal day and see when down times are. Those are the times to work in an extra pumping. Making sure we are taking care of our children and families (and of course, ourselves) is our first priority. Without that, pumping won't happen and those babes won't benefit at all, or significantly less. It is possible to work it in with multiple kids without your family suffering as a result, it's just a matter of finding the times that work best for you and setting realistic scheduling goals.
Happy pumping!
Monday, February 13, 2012
My History With Milk Donation
I am in the minority. Milk donation is something that I've always been aware of. When my mom had her fifth and sixth child (I'm the eighth out of nine), she was asked to donate breastmilk to the Red Cross, who handled it at the time. I'm not sure if they still manage a milk bank, but over 35 years ago, they did. My mom would hand express milk into a bottle because the pumps at the time had a tiny collection container for expressed milk that then would have to be transferred to the bottle. In order to use the pump and associated collection container, you'd be constantly filling it up and transferring milk, then connecting all the parts again and starting pumping again. My mom opted to hand express because she also said that she was able to get more out than the manual pump that was available back then. The Red Cross would bring my mom empty bottles and collect the full ones. It was like the milk man, back in the day, only opposite, my mom explained to me.
Milk donation has come a long way in the past 30+ years. Today, the milk bank doesn't do the recruiting. This isn't any fault of the milk bank, it's just the way it works. With my first, even though I knew about donating milk, it wasn't something I thought about. I even had a pump that I used from time to time to build up a stash of frozen milk "just in case" but that was it's sole purpose. As back up. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had many indicators of oversupply and could have donated at the time. When I became pregnant with my second, I decided that since I was able to pump so easily with my first, I could donate the second time around. It was also in discussions and preparations for my second son that I realized I had oversupply with the first and was told by a lactation consultant that it was likely to be worse the second time around. Fortunately I had already started my research on the donation process.
This is what the process entailed for me. First, I had to locate a local milk bank. The closest one to me is about three hours away. Fortunately, they have a few drop off sites that are a bit closer to me. In order to start donating, I had to have a baby that was under a year and at least two weeks old. They want to make sure you established breastfeeding successfully. I then had to contact the milk bank with my information. They sent me a packet with a questionnaire to fill out. Once I returned that form, they contacted my doctor and my baby's pediatrician (with my approval) to ensure they had on record that both of us were healthy. I then went to a lab selected by the milk bank to have some bloodwork run to ensure I didn't have communicable diseases that might pose a risk. I then was able to pick up bottles from the milk banks drop off location (the lactation center at a local hospital) and I was ready to go. Despite starting the process when my newborn was about two weeks old, it took about six weeks to complete the process so that by the time I started donating, my baby was about two months old. Now, some of it was due to losing my packet in the mail, but the process still takes a bit of time.
I'm convinced that one of the reasons donating isn't very common (the milk bank I donate to had 250 donors in 2011, most of which only gave one time) is because moms have to seek out the milk banks rather than seeing pamphlets or advertising and because the process takes dedication and discipline. It's not super easy to add into your schedule. Pamphlets are available, but since many milk banks are non-profit, they don't have the funds to run major advertising campaigns. That's just the way it is. Another reason is that people just don't know it can be done or have never heard of it. There are 11 milk banks in the US and Canada associated with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), and several other for-profit milk banks as well. That's not a lot for 50 states and 10 provinces (not to mention, they also work with Mexico, but there are currently no HMBANA milk banks there). There is a HUGE need for donors.
To see if there is a local milk bank near you, check out the Human Milk Banking Association of North America to see how you can help.
Milk donation has come a long way in the past 30+ years. Today, the milk bank doesn't do the recruiting. This isn't any fault of the milk bank, it's just the way it works. With my first, even though I knew about donating milk, it wasn't something I thought about. I even had a pump that I used from time to time to build up a stash of frozen milk "just in case" but that was it's sole purpose. As back up. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had many indicators of oversupply and could have donated at the time. When I became pregnant with my second, I decided that since I was able to pump so easily with my first, I could donate the second time around. It was also in discussions and preparations for my second son that I realized I had oversupply with the first and was told by a lactation consultant that it was likely to be worse the second time around. Fortunately I had already started my research on the donation process.
This is what the process entailed for me. First, I had to locate a local milk bank. The closest one to me is about three hours away. Fortunately, they have a few drop off sites that are a bit closer to me. In order to start donating, I had to have a baby that was under a year and at least two weeks old. They want to make sure you established breastfeeding successfully. I then had to contact the milk bank with my information. They sent me a packet with a questionnaire to fill out. Once I returned that form, they contacted my doctor and my baby's pediatrician (with my approval) to ensure they had on record that both of us were healthy. I then went to a lab selected by the milk bank to have some bloodwork run to ensure I didn't have communicable diseases that might pose a risk. I then was able to pick up bottles from the milk banks drop off location (the lactation center at a local hospital) and I was ready to go. Despite starting the process when my newborn was about two weeks old, it took about six weeks to complete the process so that by the time I started donating, my baby was about two months old. Now, some of it was due to losing my packet in the mail, but the process still takes a bit of time.
I'm convinced that one of the reasons donating isn't very common (the milk bank I donate to had 250 donors in 2011, most of which only gave one time) is because moms have to seek out the milk banks rather than seeing pamphlets or advertising and because the process takes dedication and discipline. It's not super easy to add into your schedule. Pamphlets are available, but since many milk banks are non-profit, they don't have the funds to run major advertising campaigns. That's just the way it is. Another reason is that people just don't know it can be done or have never heard of it. There are 11 milk banks in the US and Canada associated with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), and several other for-profit milk banks as well. That's not a lot for 50 states and 10 provinces (not to mention, they also work with Mexico, but there are currently no HMBANA milk banks there). There is a HUGE need for donors.
To see if there is a local milk bank near you, check out the Human Milk Banking Association of North America to see how you can help.
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