I am a breastfeeding mother and I donate milk to the Cheshire and North Wales Human Milk Bank. This is a UK charity which I heard about from a close personal friend. This friend was born prematurely in 1981 and was subsequently given donated breast milk which she believes helped her to survive and grow into a healthy adult.
Two years ago this same friend breastfed her own child and donated her breast milk, which is when I first heard about the charity. When I got pregnant last year, my friend instructed me to donate my breast milk. Of course I complied (she can be very persuasive!).
Anyway,Β in all seriousness I truly believe that this is a worthwhile cause, and that people need to understand that breastfeeding your baby is the most natural process, and a very important one for your child’s development. Therefore if you are able to donate excess milk as well, you are also helping to potentially save the lives of other premature babies, for which their parents will be eternally grateful.
The process of expressing milk to donate is not difficult. Yes it takes a little time, and it can be frustrating sometimes, but it is a small inconvenience when you consider what is at stake. The charity will provide assistance, they will provide storage bottles for the milk, and they will arrange collection when convenient.
Please take a look at their website http://www.chestermilkbank.org.uk/
Thank You
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I salute breastmilk donors! I bet you’re pleased your friend encouraged you to get involved with the milk bank. I can imagine those who receive donated milk are super grateful; it really does make a difference, doesn’t it.
Well done for donating. π
Thanks for linking to BritMums breastfeeding round-up linky.
Thank you! Yes, I had no idea that people could even donate breastmilk, and yet 35 years ago, when my friend was born prematurely, that was what sustained her development in intensive care. I like to think that my donations helped a little… π