How willing are you to donate EBM?

[shed]

nothing

[jayisa02]

I would definitely be willing to donate to a baby that needed EBM - wouldnt matter if i knew them or not. I also wouldnt want more than one blood test.

for about 6mths i was tipping breast milk down the sink cause i had filled every bottle in the house and my DD wouldnt drink from a bottle anyway. It all went to waste. I could have easily fed another baby or two!!

[Seekrit]

I've been thinking about this, I wrote up a reply and thought "Oh Nikki, that may not be well received." and closed it. And now I'm here again because I figure I may as well say it.

If I were approached by a friend for their bub, or a bub they knew, I'd gladly do so. I'd expect no reimbursment, maybe the occasional tube of Lanisinoh :laughing:

However, I wouldn't do it to donate to a milk bank, quite honestly it's too much hassle.. heh.. I expressed for 6 months for Cobey when I went back to work and it was so time consuming, boring, sometimes painful... I don't think I'd do it unless I knew where it was going and that it was being used... and see the benefits, you know?

[Jinglebells]

If I was still breastfeeding, I would donate, there is a milk bank down here, so it wouldn't be too hard to get the milk to them, I wouldn't go out of my way to produce a certain amout though, I would just give what I could to help a baby

[Phyllis Stein]

The diseases I ask donors to be screened for are HTLV, hepatitis B, C, HIV 1 and 2, and syphilis.

If I continue to receive from that donor, I'd appreciate re-screening every 4 months. I'd pay all medical and travel costs, and offer to look after their kids while they get the test done.

[forbetoel]

I would only donate to my family and close friends I think.

In the other thread I said I would rather a wet nurse, purely because I think that breast milk is at it's best straight from the body, and even then it would be from someone I knew really well.

So yes I would donate to family. I have fed my neice before.

[shed]

However, I wouldn't do it to donate to a milk bank, quite honestly it's too much hassle.. heh.. I expressed for 6 months for Cobey when I went back to work and it was so time consuming, boring, sometimes painful... I don't think I'd do it unless I knew where it was going and that it was being used... and see the benefits, you know?

Yep, I do know!! :yes: I haaaaaaaaate expressing and totally understand. I would need to see the benefits too I think.

A milk bank might get a few donations from me, but that's probably it.


The diseases I ask donors to be screened for are HTLV, hepatitis B, C, HIV 1 and 2, and syphilis.

If I continue to receive from that donor, I'd appreciate re-screening every 4 months. I'd pay all medical and travel costs, and offer to look after their kids while they get the test done.

Syphillis testing every 4 months? Is there any particular reason for that? :detective:

[RedPanda]

I'd donate to premmies, and to friends. I probably wouldn't bother donating to a healthy newborn infant because like Nikki said, it's boring and tedious to express.

I'd also be hesitant to undergo screening. Prior to pregnancy and breastfeeding, I was a regular blood donor, so I have already been screened for everything.

[zenifa]

Well I would be willing to donate EBM and until recently I did have a freezer full, unfortunately, the only milkbank around here is so underresourced they couldn't take my milk :(
I didn't expect nor want any payment, just for them to collect it and I was happy for them to screen me or the milk as required.

So I wouldn't mind if it was someone I knew or a stranger.

I am no fan of expressing either, but due to an oversupply I did have lots of frozen EBM - luckily I could use it when my DD2 started solids, so it didn't go to waste. I consider it liquid gold!!

[Sheer Bliss]

Probably not. I can't express a great deal anyway, usually only 40-50ml if DS misses a feed, and I can usually express nothing after a feed. I don't even bother expressing for him anymore, he usually has one bottle a week when i am at work, and as he is 15months, he has cows milk then. IF I could express easily and had heaps of milk (a friend of a friend expressed over 100mL of colostrum BY HAND before she left hospy as she had so much milk with her 5week premmie) then i would consider it. But also there are no banks nearby, so it would be hard to do too. On that note, I also said in the other thread, that due to our location, I would give formula over doner milk anyway. Location and availability play a big part in my decision.

[Phyllis Stein]

Syphillis testing every 4 months? Is there any particular reason for that? :detective:

I should have clarified - not all of these diseases really need to be retested. But many donors use the blood screening that is done when they donate blood, which tests for all of these.

[Duchessa]

how many breastfeeders would donate their milk and what the conditions would be?

I would.

would you only donate to someone you already knew, even if it was just online?

No, I would donate to anyone in need, if my circumstances allowed for it, though I would give preference and try harder for a friend and harder still for a relative.

if there was a milk bank in your area would you donate?

Yes. Willingly and regularly, just like a blood or plasma donation - it is a life saving bodily fluid that ought to be given an equal importance IMO.

would you expect any reimbursement?

Depends on the situation. If I were putting a significant amount of milk (ie the daily requirement of a large baby or more) I would probably need reimbursement. I found out bfing twins that the energy expenditure and nurturing that your supply needs in order to continually produce so much milk, is high. If I were producing above a certain level I would need assistance (ie someone to help care for my three children and household so that I had enough left over to make milk). If it were jst the odd donation of a few hundred mls every couple of days then no, no reimbursement.

What tests would you be willing to undergo? and if the shoe was on the other foot what tests would you ask for?[/B]

Any blood tests within reason. I would ask for any diseases that are transmissible in bm that there is a reasonable possibility of the donor having.

[neostudded]

My answers are the same as Duchessa, I would also perfer breastfeeding straight from the breast but I would express and donate as much as I could manage to donate.

I have donated milk to family and breastfed my cousins before.

[erinp]

I would donate milk if I had it. I probably wouldn't got to an excessive amount of trouble - PPs have outlined some good reasons (time, energy, etc). I would be more likley to and try harder for a friend or family member. Directly feeding is so much easier than expressing, but I'm not sure if I would do it. When it comes to the crunch I probably would, especially for a premmie or sick bub.

[miloand4]

I would not do it I would not donate my milk and I would not feed my baby donated milk :no:

[Lillynix]

I would donate my breastmilk provided I could express (which I can't this time around, but last time I could) and I would donate to anyone in need, whether I knew them or not. It doesn't matter to me (but would be of higher importance for friend/relative), so long as in the end, a babe is getting breastmilk rather than ABM.

I wouldn't expect any kind of reimbursement as it is such a rewarding thing to do in itself and I feel should be a selfless act for the benefit of a babe in need. As for testing, I would undergo any testing that was required of me, I have nothing to worry about, I take care of myself when breastfeeding for the health of my child, I sure wouldn't do anything to compromise another child.

[misskittyfantastico]

I'd donate my milk - To family, premmies, milk bank, whoever needed it....I have no issues expressing, I get about 180ml from one boob in a sitting.

I'd have no probs with screening, but I don't know whether I'd be accepted as a donor because I'm on medication.....

[Phyllis Stein]

It's funny you mention reimbursement, xxxDragonflyxxx. I offered it to my donors, but they all refused. The thing is, I'm saving so much money using donated milk, and I thought it might be a really good idea to pay donors - the whole process needs to be more valued in society, and paying donors might help achieve that. The government should fund milk banks to pay women for their donations. It's only going to benefit the public in the long run for more babies to be fed on breastmilk.

misskitty, 180mls! Wow, wish you were around my area!

[westerner]

I'd donate my milk - To family, premmies, milk bank, whoever needed it....I have no issues expressing, I get about 180ml from one boob in a sitting.


Same here..

[happytobehere]

Hi,

I just wanted to bump up tis thread for all the previous and future posters of this thread.

A call out has been made in the research section for donations of breast milk for a young child on the sunshine coast.

I live in gladstone so im too far awayto assist :no:

[mrsmov]

I would donate to anyone... but there are no milk banks around here. I'd give as much as i could get out (when i was feeding DD i could get out 200mLs in about 5 mins - i'd express from both sides at the one time with my electric pump).

[codswallop]

if we had milk banks and a collection service like they have in some european countries id give as much as i could. just the same as when i have been abble to i give blood and if i ran dry and my littles still needed milk id have no wories in giving it to them

[canberramomma]

I probably would as I seem to make more than enough for 2 bubs. I would love to see milk banks up and running. I also wouldn't have a problem wet nursing for someone or feeding someone else's child directly (as long as they didn't have a problem with it, that is).

[biscotti]

Hi,

I just wanted to bump up tis thread for all the previous and future posters of this thread.

A call out has been made in the research section for donations of breast milk for a young child on the sunshine coast.



Does anyone know where the thread is re a call out for donations of breastmilk on the Sunshine Coast? I can't find it :(

[Jender]

I emailed the contact email for donating milk and never got a response

[Jender]

And I live 5 minutes from the milk bank (at KEMH in WA)

[westerner]

Ive tried several times Jender..
They didnt have the funds to accept more donors. Which is such a shame since they need the milk.. :(

Because you have to be allocated one of their pumps and what not you cant use your own.. Such a shame as i have plenty of milk and would have loved to help..

[kymmy]

Possibly.
More likely for someone I knew.

[happytobehere]

Does anyone know where the thread is re a call out for donations of breastmilk on the Sunshine Coast? I can't find it :(


okay i swear i am not going nuts (i hope :laughing:) it was up last night as the first call out in the research section and also in another section (cant remember) with the same title...

I've been searching and cant find it. For the life of me I cannot remember the title. I will see if i can figure out how to email one of the mods for the research bit and see what happens.. sorry for any confusion people I will try to see what I can find out. It just really jumped out at me as I used to live on the sunny coast.

[cinnamonbear]

i would have no issue with donating to a friend or stranger

i really think there should be moe milkbanks around australia than there is currently.

[Benji]

Anyone is welcome to the 2 drips I can get out lately :laughing:

I would have loved to donate when DS was a bub and started sleeping all night and I had to pump.. that was the only time I could get a decent amount out.

I'd undergo whatever tests they wanted, as long as it wasn't too draining & time consuming with a new bub.

Like a few others, I'd happily be a wetnurse for someone else's bub if there were ever an emergency with mum.

[biscotti]

okay i swear i am not going nuts (i hope :laughing:) it was up last night as the first call out in the research section and also in another section (cant remember) with the same title...

I've been searching and cant find it. For the life of me I cannot remember the title. I will see if i can figure out how to email one of the mods for the research bit and see what happens.. sorry for any confusion people I will try to see what I can find out. It just really jumped out at me as I used to live on the sunny coast.

Would be grateful for any info, thanks :yes:

[naiwen]

I would donate to a milk bank attached to a NICU, if only there were more of them.

I don't think I would be comfortable with a known donation or wetnursing, unless it was an emergency.

[happytobehere]

Would be grateful for any info, thanks :yes:


Hi I just heard from the mod and the thread had been deleted. I was told that its not ok to ask for donations.. So the opportunity is now lost but rules are rules... Its a shame the OP hasnt popped in here as it wouldnt take her long to find some help. Here's hoping she has found what she needed.

[mischief79]

I never thought about milk banks, and actually never knew you could donate!
I wish I had of known earlier in my BF journey. Up until a few months ago I was still feeding 4-5 times a day, and also expressing at least 100mls a day. My freezer was bursting! Now there's no hope of expressing. All I have, Katelyn sucks out of me!

[bronny-jane]

im a smoker so i doubt they'd use my milk