Breast milk donations

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone else ever donated breast milk?
I registered to donate breastmilk and sent a form to the hospital. I was supposed to be contacted to have a blood sample taken just to be sure I had no hidden illness or infection but they never contacted me again. I thought they were desperate for breast milk for premature babies and I really want to help but ever since I decided to donate milk I had to nearly jump through hoops.
I am sending them an email today to ask about it. I thought they would be glad and hurry up to do all this to get the milk. It's been a month now since I first contacted them.
Also here in Glasgow they don't collect the milk you have to go to the hospital in less than 1 hour and deliver the frozen milk yourself. I am telling you taking the subway and walking to the hospital with the pram and a 3 month old baby is not an easy thing but I am willing to do it so they could do their part.

I'd phone them and ask them what's going on. In my experience (I've written a bit on here somewhere about Lucinda's physio referral) hospitals are hopeless with getting back to you etc! Ask to speak to someone in postnatal or special care maybe who should know something about milk donation??

Hi Emma,
I am in contact with the coordinator for milk donations!!! So if someone should know it should be her. I'll see if I get a reply to my email.
I wanted to ask you are they the retro baby banz on you're baby's picture? Are they any good? I wantd to buy a pair for Reuben. Would they fit he is only 13 weeks old?

They're not Baby Banz but they are very similar. They are the Foster Grant version called FG Baby! Yes, they're brilliant, they have all the UV protection and they fit around the head with a velcro strap so should fit Reuben's head. They're very useful for when they're in the pushchair or car seat when it's sunny. Lucinda hates the sun being in her eyes. I got them from Sainsbury's Savacentre for £4.99. They were in the pharmacy section, rather than children's clothes.

I inquired last week about milk donating but I don't think I'm going to do it. I can only donate for another month until Lily is 6 months (I had read you only had to start donating before 6 months, not that you had to stop at 6 months.) and I have to take the milk over 20 miles to the hospital as they don't collect it. After I've done the blood tests and had the results back there's not going to be any time to get a decent amount of milk together and 20 miles is a long way to travel just for a few ounces.

I'm quite disappointed as I was hoping to become a regular donor. I'll just have to do it with the next baby.

Yes sometimes you want to do your part but there is a limit to what you can do and in those cases they should organise themselves to make it easier for the ones who do want to help.
I have good news though, I got a phone call today, someoe else took over the department and found my details in a folder. (good organisation!) Well long story short she is coming on Thursday to collect a blood sample and bring me some bottles. I am so happy and I am looking forward to starting donating.

Just as I said - hospitals are hopeless!

That's daft about not wanting your milk because your baby is over 6 months old. Surely there are older breastfed babies in hospital whose parents would be grateful of some breast milk for them??

Maybe there is a use-by-date on boobies???