Breastfeeding Support Group

While breastfeeding is recommended by many doctors, it is not as simple as it seems. This is a community dedicated to parents who are choosing to breastfeed, providing a safe place to discuss everything from pumping, to questions of whether baby is getting enough, weaning, breast care, scheduling, supply, and more.

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allie80 02/23/2011

Hi Ladies-When my dd was 1 week old (in October), she was hospitalized for 10 days, and could not eat. So, while she was in the hospital, I pumped around the clock and froze all of my milk. Since that time, she has been ebf (and I stay at home with her), and is not a fan of a bottle, so most of that milk is still in my freezer. When I do occasionally have her take a bottle now, I just give her freshly expressed milk. I would say there is at least 100 bags of milk in my freezer. It's now been over 4 months, and so I'm worried that soon all of that milk will go to waste. My two questions are:
1. How long do you all keep milk in the freezer? I've heard 4 months, 5 months, 6 months? It's just a regular freezer on top of a fridge.
2. Do you have any suggestions on where I could donate this milk, if it's still good? Would anybody take it at this point? I thought about calling the local NICU, but I'm guessing they won't just take milk from some random person's freezer? Is it legal to "advertise" on craigslist, to see if I can find anybody that way who might want it?
I feel sick about this going to waste :(.
Thanks!

truststhelord 02/23/2011

I'm pretty sure the 6 months is for a deep freezer.
There are some places online where you can donate....I googles it once. Calling a NICU may be a good place to start.

Have you considered starting to rotate out your milk--thawing milk to give her and then freezing the new stuff?

lvnikita 02/23/2011

When she goes on solids are you going to make your own baby food? I used frozen breast milk when doing that.

deleted_user 02/23/2011

I don't know where you live, but there are milk banks everywhere and they will take your milk! http://www.hmbana.org/ here's a link to a milk bank, I donated with my last baby. They pay for blood testing, shipping of all the milk, supply you with microsteam bags to keep your pump clean. The only thing you need to do is get a release from your OB and ped. Please consider this option as many preterm babies, as well as outpatient babies can benefit from your milk. Congrats by the way for exclusive breastfeeeding!!!!!

deleted_user 02/23/2011

Well, I have two thoughts. I, too, pump a great deal of milk. I try to get at least 150 bags for my baby but I have a deep freeze that I put it in. I use 5oz a day to mix with their cereal because I am not a fan of mixing it with water. However, if you didn't want to keep it for that reason, I donate my milk to the Mother's Milk Bank in Colorado. It's gone really well so far. And, I don't think it's illegal to advertise it on craigslist but I'm not sure. I guess if anything it might depend on if you were selling it or giving it away. But if it's in the top of your fridge in a freezer I think it only stays good for four months.

deleted_user 02/26/2011

Check out eatsonfeets.org and cut out the middle man. They also have a facebook page. You'd be surprised about what pasteurizing can do to milk. There are moms who need your raw, unpasteurized milk and it is nice to meet someone face to face who appreciates your milk. Pumping is a labor of love!

Go ahead and give it away quick.

deleted_user 02/26/2011

Check out milkshare.com
you can donate your milk pretty easily there to someone local without all of the hassel of some of the other places.

MomHopes 03/04/2011

I would start with your local NICU. My babies have been there for the past 2 weeks and I am so grateful for the donor milk they have been receiving. When they first told me they'd get donor milk I was a little weirded out about my babies getting a stranger's milk but my supply is pretty pathetic so I'm so glad that they are still able to get the nutrients they need at such a young age.

deleted_user 03/10/2011

I contacted my local NICU and they only take 'milkbank' milk. To get my milk into the milkbank, I would have to undergo screening and then they would only take new milk, not previously frozen milk. I decided to do Eats on Feets (now called Human Milk for Human Babies in some areas) and I have an ongoing donation with a woman who lives close by. It was very rewarding to meet the baby getting my milk and I gained a friend in the process.

MomHopes 03/14/2011

That is awesome. I think it's so great of you to donate your milk.

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