Mother Seeking Breastmilk Donations
This is one of our clients. Please pass this request on to anyone you know who might be willing to share extra breast milk.
Thanks,
Brynne
On September 3rd, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl (Haylie Peyton) via an outdoor water birth at home. It was everything I had hoped for and more. The birth went so well that I was overcome with this feeling that EVERYTHING would go as planned. I quickly learned that wasn’t the case.
Haylie was nursing around the clock yet she always seemed hungry. She would nurse for hours and still not get full. At one point she hung from my breasts for 15 hours straight, only coming off to switch sides. You’d think she’d be full.
During this time I dealt with horribly cracked nipples, latch problems, painful letdown, engorgement, and even mastitis (which I suffered through 3 times). It hurt to nurse but I had to get past it. After all, feeding my baby was most important.
As usual, we would get her weighed weekly at her pediatricians office to make sure she was gaining weight. At one point she had gone up to 7 lbs 11 oz but a few days later that extra weight was off of her.. The day she was born she weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and at 5 1/2 weeks old she was back to 7 lbs 7 oz and was labeled as “failure to thrive”. My poor little girl looked so anorexic. She was all skin and bones.
At this point, we were pressured into supplementing her to get her weight up. In the meantime we were sent back to the pediatric cardiologists office to make sure her heart defect wasn’t what was causing her to not gain weight. She was born with a hole in her heart, but thankfully, that’s not what was causing it. It turns out that her latch was so bad that she couldn’t get enough out of my breasts to help her grow. This in turn decreased my milk supply drastically.
I continued putting her to the breast but would supplement her with a SNS. That way she’d get nourishment but would also get milk from me. Just not a lot. I would also pump after each nursing session in hopes of boosting my supply. On top of that I started taking fenugreek, more milk plus, reglan and motilium as well as LOTS of oatmeal. Nothing was working. I just couldn’t rebuild my supply. I tried SO hard for weeks. All I got out of it was the feeling of failure.
She was getting more and more formula, which made her sicker and sicker. We tried numerous different types of formula but she wasn’t/isn’t able to tolerate any of them. Even the prescription one that they now have her on called Pregestimil. Either she vomits profusely, or she has explosive diapers.
After many sleepless nights of me apologizing to my baby girl for failing her, and torturing her with formula that made her sick, I started looking into donor milk. I had a close friend donating to us but it wasn’t enough to keep her off of formula. So, I looked for more donors who would be willing to help us. I ended up finding a few different women to help out. At one point, we had received enough milk to keep Haylie off of formula for 3 weeks! These were the BEST 3 weeks ever!
At 13 weeks, she now weighs 12 pounds. She’s also VERY happy 99% of the time and no more vomiting or explosive diapers. The only tears I cried this time, were happy ones. This solidified what we as nursing mothers already know. That breast milk really is best! It’s so much easier for her to digest, she hasn’t been sick once (even though the rest of us have been), and she’s no longer in the danger zone with her weight.
The problem is, the women who have been donating to us, no longer have milk available. I feel like we’ve hit a brick wall. I went as far as talking to her pediatrician about it and she agreed that breast milk is a medical necessity for Haylie and tried getting Medicaid to cover the cost of donor milk from a milk bank. Sadly, the refused.
Now I have no milk for Haylie, no insurance helping us get milk, and no donors who are able to help us out right now. Which brings me to the point of sharing this. We’re desperately seeking donors who can help Haylie continue to thrive.
In order to keep her completely off of formula, it will take about 300 oz per week. Obviously that’s way more then any one person could provide so we’re seeking several donors who would be willing to help us out. It would mean the world to me as well as Haylie.
She doesn’t have any known allergies so donors don’t need to be on a special diet. She does very well on the donor milk she’s been given and most of the milk comes from moms who enjoy dairy on a daily basis.
If you have milk you’re looking to donate or are willing to pump, please consider Haylie as the recipient.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for considering us for your donation.
-Renee
cvilledoula@gmail.com
11 comments
Thank you so much for doing this. Haylie and I appreciate this so much.
You’ve both been amazing. I can’t help but rave about you both to everyone I know. It’s because of you two that I had such an amzing birthing experience. Something that was soooo important to me.
You helping us like this went above and beyond the call of duty. It just goes to show how caring you are.
Hi Renee!
I really empathize with your situation as my first son had some nursing issues and wish I could help you! Although I can’t personally (until I have my baby in June 2009), I do know of at least one mom in the La Leche League in Charlottesville (Wed morning group) that has over supply and has mentioned that she donates milk. Have you already tried going to a meeting or talking to La Leche leaders to get the word out about your situation? You are in my thoughts and prayers.
I was looking into donating my milk to an organization in NC. I may be able to donate milk to you to help if you are still in need. My son is 15 mos. and is still nursing often. Please feel free to contact me.
Renee,
I read your post and I would be very willing to help as much as I could. I have two happy healthy twins who are thriving on breast milk and are now almost 10 months old. They nurse constantly but are not will to take milk from the sitter so I have a huge stock pile of frozen milk. I would be willing to donate as much as I have:) Feel free to contact me…I live in Harrisonburg, Va.
Meghan
Renee,
Hello, I read your post, and I would be willing to help if it is still needed! My son will be 6 months old on 06/15 and thriving on breast milk. Thankfully, I’ve not had a problem with milk production and have a freezer full; I’m not exactly sure how much I have. Please feel free to check out our webpage and look at pics of him if you’d like and contact me if you’re interested! I live in Waynesboro, VA.
My story isn’t as touching as Renee’s but I am also looking for breast milk. I nursed my first three children and really believe in the benefits of breast milk. We have just adopted a 5 week old baby from Virginia and I would love to also give him the benefit of the wonderful nutrition and benefits of breast milk. Does anyone know how this works or how to get some? What does it cost? Thanks for letting me know. Is anyone willing to help provide breast milk for my new little one?
~ Joanna
Waynesboro, VA
Hi Joanna
I was reading the above post and saw that you were in need of donated milk. I wanted to get some more information from you. I am a new mom and have been nursing my son since he was born. I am able to put some milk in the freezer daily and would be willing to assist you if possible.
Hi Joanna,
I recently just had a baby two weeks ago. For whatever reason she likes formula much better than breast milk. I have some in my freezer that I started to store as soon as we got home from the hospital. I would be than happy to give it to you if you are still in need.
I have a deep freezer full of milk. I’m starting to bake for X-mas and need room. I have been giving the milk to two of my friends ,one with twins & the other just went back to work. They don’t have any more room either. The milk needs to go . You are more then welcome to it if you still need it.
Ronda
Joanna,
Are you still looking for mothers to donate milk? I have a friend who has been trying to find someone nearby to donate milk to. I am also nursing and in Augusta County. I do not have a large stash of B/M yet, but am starting to pump more and would be willing to give some as I collect it. My son is now 3 1/2 months.
Hi Joanna,
I am not sure if your needs have been met but I am also willing to help as I am producing an excess of milk for my 2 month old. I average about 6-10 oz extra each feeding. If anyone looking for milk is still interested please let me know.
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