Excellent questions! I donated my "extra" milk with my 2nd baby. I had
a huge supply to begin with, and then she started sleeping through the
night (5-6 hours). When she woke up, she'd nurse only one side (very
full) and pass out again for another 3 hours!! I was very, very
lopsided and in agony as I was very full. I pumped (well, mostly hand
expressed as my pump was a Kaneson (sp?) cylinder kind) and easily got 3
or 4 ounces. Both breasts were reasonably full again when my baby awoke
3 hours later. I understand that the milk bank (at Georgetown
University Hospital) is no longer in existence. It felt great to share
my extra with their preemies. But that's MY definition of "extra"; I
couldn't speak for anybody else, and could see where there's a gray area
and also a danger area.
Margi
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC wrote:
> I am curious as to whether anyone has considered the impact on a baby
> whose mother is actively pumping to donate to a milk bank? If the
> feeding pattern determines composition, then how does pumping affect
> the composiition of the milk the baby receives? On one site, mothers
> are encouraged to donate their "extra" milk, but what is extra milk?
> It is also suggested they wait several weeks before pumping, but is
> that really long enough? When we are pumping, we are creating a
> surplus, but is that extra? Are some mothers more at risk of plugged
> ducts and breast infections due to pumping when their babies do not
> need the increased supply, especially if the reality of life means an
> erratic pumping schedule? I am not against donor milk in any way and
> think it should actually be the only alternative to a mother's own
> milk, but I wonder about interfering in the dance between mother and
> baby that assures her baby the perfect milk for him. Should we
> evaluate the possible impact on the baby, on the mother and on their
> relationship, especially so that mothers who choose to provide milk
> can do so in the best way possible?
> Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
>
> ***********************************************
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