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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