Diaper Swappers

dmagsam · 08-01-2008, 04:21 PM

This may sound strange and like a "no brainer" but I wanted to see what other adopting moms think.

My sister breast feeds my nephew and has extra milk. She has volunteered to pump a couple of times a day and freeze the extra milk for us to use when "our" baby is born in December. (I say "our" because it feels like we're expecting--but of course it's really the birthmom's baby at this point). I know she probably won't have enough milk to last the first year of our baby's life being that my nephew is already 8 months old, so we would probably need to switch to formula at some point.

Also, my sister isn't the most healthy eater in the world (not a lot of fruits & veggies), but her 2 boys have thrived on her milk. She says she would follow a specific diet if we wanted her to, but since she's offering to do this for us I don't want to put any major restrictions on her or make it so difficult that she wishes she hadn't offered. If the milk is good enough for my nephews, it's probably good enough for my baby...right?

Any ideas, reactions, suggestions, etc?

z'smomma · 08-01-2008, 07:08 PM

I was given that option from a friend and at the time decided (because he had already arrived and we were having a bit of reflux/formula issues) to not do it. But if someone offers again with #2, I'm going to ask my doc how we can do that. I want to make sure babe is getting enough but surely would love to have breast milk. Even if we have to supplement with formula.

Ariana'sClothesline · 08-02-2008, 07:03 AM

I would say go for it! I am by far not the healthiest eater out there and my babies are thriving

Your body will take what it needs from it to produce milk, so the mother is the one who is going to end up with deficiency's... Lol, I know all this and still I find it hard to eat right. Breastmilk would be soooo good for an adopted baby, I would jump all over that, even if it's only for a few months.

borabora511 · 08-02-2008, 09:09 AM

Hi mama... I'm excited for your upcoming adoption... I have a freezer full of milk and my DS doesn't take bottles- thru someother post here, I found something called MilkShare (I think it's www.milkshare.org)- and it's a place where mamas can donate bm if they over produce, and other mamas can find milk locally if they have low supply or are adopting, etc...

I found a woman who lives about 2 hrs from me, and she fully used other mamas breastmilk with her 1st adopted son, and now she has a little girl who is 3 months old and soley on others breastmilk. She's never had formula...She's sending me bm bags and I'm excited to meet her and her little girl!

I feel very priveledged to help support someone else's goal of fully breastfeeding their baby even if they can't physically do it!

If we were to ever adopt- I would definitely look for someone close so I could "breastfeed" my baby!

mom2jpd · 08-05-2008, 12:26 PM

I say go for it! What an awesome option. I tried to relactate to nurse our adoptive daughter but she was 11 mos old and not interested.

dmagsam · 08-05-2008, 04:33 PM

Thanks for your responses.

Since posting I have heard that it's best to use milk produced for the same-age baby as you'll be feeding it to...so don't know whether to use my sis' or not. Milkshare sounds interesting, though! I see you have to pay a one-time fee of $15 to post on the site, but if other mamas recommend it that makes me feel more comfortable. And $15 is nothing.

After looking into milk banks, I find that they charge $3-7 per OUNCE--there's no way we can afford that.

andrea0324 · 08-05-2008, 06:34 PM

I 2nd milkshare--I met my "milk-daughter" there. I helped feed her until she was 16mos old. She was 4 months older than my daughter, but her parents reported her thriving on my milk mixed with formula to be enough for her. She had some reflux issues with just formula, but a little BM made it go down much more smoothly!

teleana22 · 08-05-2008, 07:06 PM

I would absolutely take the milk!! as long as she doesn't smoke do drugs or drink excessively. even though her baby is older, it would still be better than formula. i think most milk banks take milk as long as the nursing baby is under age 1. my ds in ebf, and i was just telling his dad the other day(yes i think of crazy things) if anything was to happen to me before he was 2 i would want him to find donated bm for our baby, and absolutely NOT give him formula. lol, i even gave him a local lll leaders card. gl and congrats!!

Teleana

livvy1216 · 08-05-2008, 09:11 PM

Starving and very under/malnurioushed women can produce very healthy milk for their babies. As long as drugs or alcohol are not involved, you probably don't need to worry.

it is a good point about the milk "aging" with the baby. however, i would think "mature" human milk is still a healthier, better choice for a newborn than formula.

juclark77 · 08-06-2008, 05:34 AM

I would take the milk! I induced lactation, and I was thrilled to get some BM from a friend before I got a full supply of my own.

08-01-2008, 04:21 PM	#1
dmagsam Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 120 Ratings: 25 Feedback: 100%	donated breast milk This may sound strange and like a "no brainer" but I wanted to see what other adopting moms think. My sister breast feeds my nephew and has extra milk. She has volunteered to pump a couple of times a day and freeze the extra milk for us to use when "our" baby is born in December. (I say "our" because it feels like we're expecting--but of course it's really the birthmom's baby at this point). I know she probably won't have enough milk to last the first year of our baby's life being that my nephew is already 8 months old, so we would probably need to switch to formula at some point. Also, my sister isn't the most healthy eater in the world (not a lot of fruits & veggies), but her 2 boys have thrived on her milk. She says she would follow a specific diet if we wanted her to, but since she's offering to do this for us I don't want to put any major restrictions on her or make it so difficult that she wishes she hadn't offered. If the milk is good enough for my nephews, it's probably good enough for my baby...right? Any ideas, reactions, suggestions, etc?

08-02-2008, 07:03 AM	#3
Ariana'sClothesline Registered Users Formerly: isfahel Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 543 Ratings: 98 Feedback: 100%	Re: donated breast milk I would say go for it! I am by far not the healthiest eater out there and my babies are thriving Your body will take what it needs from it to produce milk, so the mother is the one who is going to end up with deficiency's... Lol, I know all this and still I find it hard to eat right. Breastmilk would be soooo good for an adopted baby, I would jump all over that, even if it's only for a few months. __________________ WAHM to Ari-9/18/06, Tell-6/13/08, and Ender-7/3/10 Organic Diapers, Momma Pads, Covers, Fleece and Wool! http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/...d.php?t=249440 www.arianasclothesline.com

08-02-2008, 09:09 AM	#4
borabora511 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 349 Ratings: 45 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: donated breast milk Hi mama... I'm excited for your upcoming adoption... I have a freezer full of milk and my DS doesn't take bottles- thru someother post here, I found something called MilkShare (I think it's www.milkshare.org)- and it's a place where mamas can donate bm if they over produce, and other mamas can find milk locally if they have low supply or are adopting, etc... I found a woman who lives about 2 hrs from me, and she fully used other mamas breastmilk with her 1st adopted son, and now she has a little girl who is 3 months old and soley on others breastmilk. She's never had formula...She's sending me bm bags and I'm excited to meet her and her little girl! I feel very priveledged to help support someone else's goal of fully breastfeeding their baby even if they can't physically do it! If we were to ever adopt- I would definitely look for someone close so I could "breastfeed" my baby! __________________ Sherri... natural- Bradley birthing, organic, non-vaxing, Jesus lovin', anti-circ mama to little B (1/26/08) and miss C (10/4/10) Married to the love of my life, Big B, since 5/02

08-05-2008, 12:26 PM	#5
mom2jpd Registered Users Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 111 Ratings: 2 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: donated breast milk I say go for it! What an awesome option. I tried to relactate to nurse our adoptive daughter but she was 11 mos old and not interested. __________________ Mom 2 Jake, Parker, & Dori My Graphic Design Biz: Custom Blog Designs

08-05-2008, 04:33 PM	#6
dmagsam Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 120 Ratings: 25 Feedback: 100%	Re: donated breast milk Thanks for your responses. Since posting I have heard that it's best to use milk produced for the same-age baby as you'll be feeding it to...so don't know whether to use my sis' or not. Milkshare sounds interesting, though! I see you have to pay a one-time fee of $15 to post on the site, but if other mamas recommend it that makes me feel more comfortable. And $15 is nothing. After looking into milk banks, I find that they charge $3-7 per OUNCE--there's no way we can afford that.