For many women who breastfeed, they have plenty of milk. Sometimes more than enough (like I did). If you fall into that category, be thankful (although I know it's a problem, believe me, I've been there). But there's actually a shortage of breastmilk overall. Donated breastmilk goes to pre-term infants, and mothers who are having difficulty producing milk.
There have been several articles written recently about donating breastmilk, including one in USA Today about Breast Milk Bank Donors. There are a variety of places you can donate breastmilk: informal arrangements, non-profit milk banks, and for-profit milk banks. There are pros and cons to each option, and if you do have extra breastmilk, I highly encourage you to check out what options are available to you and do your research before donating this highly valuable resource.
Thank you for posting the USA Today article about breast milk bank donors. More and more hospitals are ordering donor milk for premature and sick babies who are in the NICU. Nonprofit milk banks that serve these hospitals continue to experience a shortage of donor milk, making it hard to meet the increasing demand for donor milk. A big thank you to all of the women who take the time out of their busy schedules to donate their milk. We are so grateful for your support....we recognize that we could not do this work without you!
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