845 ounces of breast milk.
For those of you who have ever pumped an ounce of breast milk in your life, you know what that number means.
That is endless hours strapped to a pump. It is countless hours of lost sleep. It is an never-ending sea of pump parts and breast milk storage containers that need washing. It is soaked through nursing pads, t-shirts, and sheets. It’s a nightly free show for all the neighbors and the risk that topless photos of me are splashed all over the internet. It was time I couldn’t spend holding my child.
I couldn’t let it all be for nothing.
We discovered that Kate has some kind of aversion toward my breast milk and have had to go with a 100% formula diet for her. I had continued pumping and storing breast milk while we went through all the trial and error with Kate, but early on there was a little voice in my head that said, “She’s never going to drink this.” The thought of dumping all that expressed milk down the drain was enough to make me ill, and I began thinking that there most be someone who could use it for their baby.
Well I’m very proud to report that I recently donated all 845 ounces of my breast milk to a “milk bank” where it will be pasteurized and distributed to babies in need–particularly premature babies who are failing to thrive or have life-threatening diseases or conditions. Knowing that makes every single minute strapped to that pump more than worth it. Lots of little babies get helped, I get my modesty back, Kate gets her much-desired synthetic nutrition, and G gets his Hot Pocket space back in the freezer–a win-win situation all around!
In honor of The Great Breast Milk Migration, I have decided to write a little love letter to a couple of very hard workers:
Dear Breasts,
Well hello you little overachievers, you! Congratulations on a job well done. Who knew something so small could produce so much? You’re like the Ryan Seacrest of the breastfeeding world. Nice work.
I know Kate not wanting your milk was a hard pill to swallow, but look on the bright side–instead of feeding one baby now you’ll be feeding hundreds! You’ve had a rough few months of poking, prodding, squeezing, and pulling, but for now your job is complete. Please return to your original size and upright position.
Love, Me
Check out my Facebook page for pictures of the little individually sealed bags that temporarily took over our freezers and my sanity.
This is awesome! So great of you to do that.
What a wonderful thing to have done donating the breast milk like that!
Also……LMFAO @ please return to your original size and upright position!!!
–Jill
Muskego, WI
That’s so great that you did that! You’re right – so many babies are going to benefit because of you!
that’s wonderful you could do that. and i would totally want my hot pocket space back too
Yea for you! That is such a great thing to do/give :).
This post is fabulous and so are you! Job well done (and I do mean YOU, not the girls~ that would be innapropriate).
What a blessing to all those babies in need!
Good for you! You’re still giving a gift and in a way, showing Kate how to be selfless and giving!
I’m due in a month and am a little nervous about the whole breastfeeding process. I’m trying to go in with an open mind and know if it doesn’t work out, it will be okay.
Girl you crack me up! Way to go D’s boobies!!
I pump at least once a day and I hate it….can’t imagine sticking to it the way you did. Major congratulations to you!! What a wonderful thing you have done!
You’re amazing D!
AWESOME! Good for you!!
Absolutely amazing and unselfish act! Way to go!
Great job girl! I’ve got a whopping 5 bags in our freezer and I’m proud as can be.
It is so awesome that you were able to donate your milk!! A situation that you thought was negative at first has turned into something so positive!
I love you blog!
I read an article about 6 months ago about milk banks and how absolutely amazing they are. What you have donated will help so many babies that need your special mama’s milk. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. You are amazing!! I could cry just thinking about it and I didn’t donate the milk. You should be so proud of yourself (and your boobs). Nice work mama!
That’s wonderful that you were able to do that!!
I had SOOO much breast milk left over when my son weaned at 14 months! I called our local hospital to see if we had such “milk bank,” but unfortunately, we don’t in our area.
They did have 1 suggestion for me, though… DONATE IT TO OUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER FOR KITTENS/PUPPIES. You have GOT to be friggin’ kidding me.
I’m so glad you were able to donate it! As someone who lost over 500 ounces to 3 freezer mishaps, I completely understand the TIME and EFFORT you spent with your pump. I was devastated to lose all of the milk and kept thinking about how I acquired it all. Congrats on your hard work paying off in a generous way!
Congratulations! You are amazing! and your milk is so appreciated.
Good for you! What a kind thing you did.
I literally LMAO at the Ryan Seacrest comment! OMG!
Way to go D! Pumping is a form of torture, so I commend you for donating and not letting all your precious time go to waste!
I LOVE your blog!!! What’s funny is I read this post while strapped to my pump at work! Way to go on helping all those babies!
LOL, the love note is hilarious!
And that really is a wonderful cause. Great job for putting all of that milk to good use
Dusty,
That girl of yours is so darn cute! Just ridiculous:) I love checking in on you via G & D. AND you are amazing to have pumped/produced and then donated that whopping amount of breastmilk. What an incredible gift you gave in insuring that your ‘liquid gold’ (I’ve heard it referred to that way) that Miss Kate couldn’t use will be used to the benefit of many babies. Amazing. Bravo, friend.
Jessica
First of all, that is an insane amount of milk! And second, you are amazing for donating all of that, and continuing to pump when you pretty much knew Kate wouldn’t drink it.
Pumping is SO hard; I think about giving up every day (I exclusively pump due to G not gaining any weight in his first 2 weeks and being in “survival mode”). It is SO hard, but in the end you just want what’s best for your baby. Good job, mama!
Right on! You are saving little babies’ lives. Good job mama.
That is wonderful! I completely understand and have so much respect for your determination. It is so awesome that your hard work can bless those babies!
How often did you pump to get all of that?? I’m pumping right now and it takes forever for me to get even 2oz and my baby eats it up right away. I am so jealous of your enormous stash! and well done on donating it.
You don’t know me but I am a friend of Lisa M. She turned me onto your blog because we have similar “tastes”. I just wanted to tell you that I admire your determination and I think donating your milk was fantastic! Oh and after two babies let me tell you about my boobs….
Good for you! As a pregnant first time momma I have found such inspiration in your dedication to doing what is best for your baby and many babies you will never meet.
I think that that is one of the most lovely gestures I have ever heard of. Good. For. You! Wow.
jbhat
You are one amazing woman!
I had the same problem as Sarah, not enough breast milk and a baby born at 6 lbs., lost a pound to 5 lbs., then he stayed that small for 4 weeks. We ditched breastfeeding and I pumped with formula supplements. None of my milk ever made it to the freezer, he ate it immediately. Frederick was almost 4 months old and I had pumped 510 times total when I called it quits – I was down to 8 oz. a day. It was EXHAUSTING, mentally and physically.
I commend all lactating mothers! It is so rewarding when it works and hell when it doesn’t. A growing happy baby is all that matters.
You are amazing!!! WOW!
Good for you! I was an overproducer after I had my son, and had not only enough to feed him but tons leftover. I donated mine too because like you, I couldn’t bear to see it go to waste. I laughed when I got to the part about little individual bags taking over, because I remember just wishing I had room to buy ice cream.
Good for you!! How amazing that you continued to pump for other babies once you found out it wouldn’t benefit your own baby.