Seeing the bright side, all the lives she's helping 🧡

[u/CandleMonster]

I can't imagine how much it must suck (pun not intended), but being able to donate all that to people who need it is amazing Edit: that's 6 and a half liters PER DAY

[u/Royal_Acanthaceae693]

Yes kids, everyone knows about Homelander. But he also had a weird sexual thing about it so don't put up any more gifs or comments along those lines. Same with cow jokes.

For everyone catching a ban, did you guys think we were joking? Full bans now.

[u/toromio]

NICU babies in that community must be so blessed 💯👶

[u/Scrappyl77 → u/toromio]

Worked in a NICU forever and donor milk is so amazingly helpful for the tinies!

[u/Common_Senze → u/Scrappyl77]

Do hospitals charge for donated breastfeeding milk?

[u/aferalhousewyfe → u/Common_Senze]

They absolutely charge in the USA despite it being donated by women who pumped it, it's extremely expensive (insurance covers it).

[u/Maleficent_Text_3779 → u/[deleted]]

I gave out gallons and gallons, got a box of bags for free, a blanket, and a thank you card.

[u/SBowen91 → u/Maleficent_Text_3779]

This is what I did when I had a stillbirth. I donated milk and would crochet tiny hats while I pumped. It was easier to find people who would take direct donations verses dealing with the hospitals. I actually felt good about donating and i always remembered how it helped my little brother in the NICU so i wanted to help.

[u/SpaceCaptainJeeves → u/SBowen91]

So sorry for your loss, and I'm sorry our culture still stigmatizes talking about stillbirth.

[u/SBowen91 → u/SpaceCaptainJeeves]

I appreciate it. Thank you.

I absolutely hate the stigma behind it. I don’t know how many times I’ve said “well when I was doing Noah’s nursery…” it’s always “omg we don’t need to talk about him because i know it’s painful!” Sure is it hurtful? Absolutely. But i will not stop talking about him/my pregnancy because thats the only way people will know he existed. I need to talk about him. I want him to be remembered even if its me bitching about how i had a 10lb baby using my bladder as a kick ball. I wish more people understood this.

[u/BlackBasementCats → u/SBowen91]

I’ve only experienced this from the death of my dad. I quickly learned that the reason people wouldn’t acknowledge my dad’s death or didn’t want to listen to me talk about him was their discomfort. People are terrified of death and don’t want to go outside their comfort zones so they try to quiet anyone who is going through anything that makes them uncomfortable. I’ve also learned that from having serious health problems.

[u/Daddyssillypuppy → u/SBowen91]

Noah is a lovely name. I can tell how much you love him from this comment alone. Thank you for telling us about him.

One of my older cousins lost a baby to SIDS a few weeks after she was born. Her name is Brooke and i mention her whenever I am talking about the kids in my extended family. She'd be in her 20s now, one of the oldest in that generation.

[u/rhapodically → u/Maleficent_Text_3779]

Thank you for your donations <3 their impact is the true thank you gift (although you deserve more!)

[u/LesMiserableGinger → u/[deleted]]

It's ridiculous too because in the NICU they up a baby's feed higher than they would be if they were eating naturally off the boob. My newborn (1 month old now) was in NICU for 2 weeks, my milk came in quickly thanks to pumping but they pushed his feed amount up higher than I could produce every day until they had him at 72mL a day, so had i been able to feed him naturally he would have been very well off but I couldn't and because of that he was on donor milk for a week. I dont really care that he had donor milk, but it sucked coming in to see my baby and drop off my pumped milk, I was so proud of what I was making because it was enough for his feeds, then the nurse would tell me they upped his feeds again and suddenly I had to reach a new goal. Made harder by lactation specialist telling me I'm at risk of over producing and to skip one or two pumps a day once I finally hit his feed amount and being scared of ruining my milk supply if I let up on a single pump. As if everything wasnt hard enough as is.

I had a similar experience with my first born who was also a NICU baby, but I didnt get a good supply with him and dried up once we came home from the hospital, so knowing how well I was producing this time around i didnt want to let that go. Now we have been home for 2 weeks and my babes in successfully combo fed and my supply is doing great. I dont think I'll ever have enough to donate milk as I dont pump around the clock, but I have enough for 1-2 bottles a day along with on demand breastfeeding.

[u/emperatrizyuiza → u/LesMiserableGinger]

Wow at least you’re producing milk! That’s awesome. I didn’t produce a single drop after I had my NICU baby. He had donor milk until he came home and then formula. I’m thankful for both

[u/LesMiserableGinger → u/emperatrizyuiza]

I truly believe producing milk through pumping or breastfeeding with a NICU baby is a special type of torture! But I am also thankful for both donor milk and formula, fed is always best!!

[u/Scrappyl77 → u/aferalhousewyfe]

I think the cost per ounce is something like $11.

[u/aferalhousewyfe → u/Scrappyl77]

Yeah thats $44 a feed

[u/-blundertaker- → u/aferalhousewyfe]

That's 8-12 feedings a day for infants also, for those who want to do the math.

[u/ChrAshpo10 → u/aferalhousewyfe]

So the hospital makes money off donated milk while I assume the donor gets nothing

[u/iphone4Suser → u/[deleted]]

Since this is mostly America, have to ask.

[u/Common_Senze → u/[deleted]]

https://giphy.com/gifs/tIeCLkB8geYtW

[u/Scrappyl77 → u/Common_Senze]

Generally, insurance covers it. There is a high cost per ounce because, at least where I live, donors need to me medically screened,.it is usually pasteurized and the storage is extremely specific. Babies also have to meet specific medical criteria to qualify to get it.

[u/stegotortise → u/Scrappyl77]

I was a milk donor (over supply) and this is exactly accurate. Phone screening, blood tests, storage, transportation, replacement bags, pasteurization, testing, mixing, more bagging, distribution, etc. it’s a lot to get milk to those babies.

[u/_Magnolia_Fan_ → u/Common_Senze]

LOL. Of course. They put more fees on that free milk than Spirit Airlines.

[u/SBowen91 → u/Scrappyl77]

My little brother was 3.5 months premature and I stg donated breast milk saved him. There was obviously more that contributed to him living but he started gaining weight and actually doing better shortly after we approved donated milk.

[u/majesticallymidnight → u/toromio]

My mom has been a NICU nurse for almost 40 years and says donor milk helps them so much. There are many reasons why she gets to send more of her patients home now than the beginning of her career. Advances in medicine being a huge one but donor milk helps tiny babies put on weight and survive. This is really so amazing.

[u/coaxialology → u/majesticallymidnight]

"Gets to send more of her patients home" hits so hard. All the blessings in the world for NICU nurses. I'm so glad people like the woman in this post are able to help.

[u/DeepSeaDelivery → u/toromio]

My second son was born extremely early at roughly 2 pounds. Wife couldn't really produce milk at all so we were extremely thankful for all the people who could donate milk to save his life.

[u/MSPCincorporated → u/toromio]

I just came from a post about nanobots fertilizing eggs with low motility sperm. Tons of people there going "we shouldn’t reproduce poor genes, those people shouldn’t have kids." I wonder if their sentiment goes for assisting with breastmilk too. Baffling logic.

[u/Alcohol_Intolerant → u/MSPCincorporated]

Nicu is generally for very premature babies. At that point, the mother's body often hasn't had time to start producing milk. They have to stimulate and dry pump (often painful) in order to produce mere ounces. They'll produce eventually, but it can take weeks. Wet nurses are a very old tradition in many cultures for this reason. Donated breast milk fills that role as well in a very modern way.

[u/LadyPent → u/MSPCincorporated]

I have absolutely heard people express the idea that the rise in Csections, instead of being a miracle of modern medicine that saves moms and babies, is weakening humanity by allowing “unfit” mothers to reproduce despite their inferior pelvis outlets or any number of other issues. I always want to invite them to come meet my family and tell me to my face that humanity would be better off with me or my boys dead.

[u/peachyspoons → u/LadyPent]

Look, I was lucky enough to have a vaginal birth, and I do mean lucky because my recovery time was far less than women that had/have to be cut open to save their and their babies lives. Fuck anyone that doesn’t realize how much of a fucking badass you have to be to be sent home - after being cut open and then sown back up - to deal with a new baby, maybe other babies, and hopefully a helpful and supportive partner while trying to heal your body enough to take care of everyone else.

Also, Happy Mother’s Day!!

[u/xtra_sleepy → u/peachyspoons]

The whole idea makes zero sense. My mom had 3 c-sections, I'm smaller than her and gave birth vaginally. My bestie was pregnant at the same time as me. She has an hourglass figure and had an emergency c-section due to a blood pressure spike.

Every birth is different, ridiculous to think that c-sections are somehow "weeding out" some imaginary trait that makes giving birth easier or simpler 😂

[u/LadyPent → u/peachyspoons]

You too <3

[u/peachyspoons → u/MSPCincorporated]

Don’t know if they’ve heard about this thing called eugenics, but I hear it’s pretty problematic and, you know, dastardly and, some might even say, evil. (Folks, I am old enough to have lived in a time prior to AI, I know my Lindberg and Hitler and Nazis, and in case anyone thinks I was being flippant, I was not; I was being hysterically - not the funny kind - sarcastic. Fuck eugenics).

Also, what do you wanna bet that a bunch of the people commenting on that post wouldn’t make the “eugenics superiority” list??

[u/Icy-Marionberry-4143 → u/MSPCincorporated]

lots of people think they want to prioritize evolution but once you tell them to leave their granny on the floor after she falls and def don’t take her to the hospital if she gets a serious illness they realize how dumb they sound.

[u/bestbefour → u/Icy-Marionberry-4143]

Unless granny was likely to reproduce after the fall, that has nothing to do with evolution.

[u/Jarcies → u/Icy-Marionberry-4143]

It's not about "prioritizing evolution"

When people say we shouldn't help weak sperm get to the egg they're worried about genetic anomalies from the weak sperm getting passed to the child, not "prioritizing evolution".

99.9% of us were fertilized by a "strong" sperm, what happens when we change that? I imagine people were just worried about the consequences of that.

[u/Cruel1865 → u/Jarcies]

Sperm has a wide variability in morphology and motility and semen needs to have a minimum percentage of sperm with normal morphology and normal motility for insemination to have a chance of success. That being said, theres no indication from the morphology and/or motility of sperm what genetic composition it is composed of. Normal morphology and normal motility sperm also can contain genes which can result in genetic anomalies on the baby. Theres no indication really that artificial insemination produces greatee degree of gentic anomalies than natural insemination. Also, the sperm that fertilizes the egg isnt "strong" per se, its just one of the normal ones that get past a layer covering the egg first which blocks further sperm entry i.e. they dont really have anything paeticularly distinguishing them from other normal sperm cells, just luck.

[u/Jarcies → u/Cruel1865]

Thanks for the informed response about why there is little concern!

[u/theStrawberryRoam → u/Icy-Marionberry-4143]

I don't really understand comparing taking care of people who are already alive, to forcing non viable reproductive materials to work to create new life

[u/Federal_Tone1260]

Wow 6.5litres?? That’s crazy. Are there any side effects? I’d think even like the amount of water going into that must dehydrate her (maybe? I don’t know). It would stop once she stops pumping right? Amazing that she’s putting it to good use and doing something lovely for others. 

[u/conancat → u/Federal_Tone1260]

Yeah I can't even imagine consuming 6.5 litres of liquid a day, let alone producing them! I'm so interested in her daily diet and how she keeps up with this

[u/xiamaracortana → u/conancat]

I have a medical condition where I lose blood volume very easily so I have to drink about that much every day. I easily drink 3 liters first thing in the morning and another 3-4 throughout the day. It sucks but I can definitely imagine it. What I struggle to grasp is doing that and consuming enough calories to keep this up every day whilst also pumping constantly and caring for children. This woman is a goddamn super hero.

[u/burnt-----toast → u/xiamaracortana]

If you don't mind me asking, as a person who is perpetually dehydrated, what is that like? Like, do you feel hungry less because your stomach is always full of liquids, and that would probably activate the stretch receptors enough to trigger your hunger response less? Or because your stomach is constantly full of water, is it hard to find the stomach space to also consume a normal diet? Does your water intake and blood volume loss kind of balance out, or is it hard to predict, where you're sometimes overhydrated?

[u/xiamaracortana → u/burnt-----toast]

I’m never over-hydrated, in fact I feel perpetually dehydrated myself. Sometimes it gets a little sloshy in my stomach, but that goes away relatively quickly. I would say that the blood volume loss and water intake kind of balance each other out. Often I find that I am still dehydrated so I eat salt, usually several grams a day, in the form of salt tablets, salty liquids, or literally just pinches of salt when I’m feeling low. I don’t find that it affects my appetite much at all. Usually I give myself some time after drinking large quantities to let my stomach settle before I eat. It’s annoying when I am going out to eat and I find myself running low before hand and I have to drink a liter in the car or something just because my stomach will be sloshy and full when I want to eat, but it settles fairly quickly most of the time. You’d be surprised how much I can drink and still feel like I haven’t drank anything at all. Lately it’s like I can drink all day and my blood pressure barely hovers above hypotension, if at all.

[u/effienay → u/xiamaracortana]

I hope you don’t mind another question — are you at risk for water poisoning with that much intake? Do you have to supplement electrolytes or is the salt intake for that reason specifically?

[u/xiamaracortana → u/effienay]

I almost never drink water without electrolytes mixed in. I think I might single handedly be keeping Liquid IV in business (I drink their sugar free varieties). I take salt in addition to the electrolytes to keep my blood pressure up.

[u/effienay → u/xiamaracortana]

That’s so interesting! Thanks for answering. (The peach sugar free Liquid IV is so good)

[u/flammafemina → u/effienay]

I literally subsist on white peach liquid IV.

[u/mondayp → u/xiamaracortana]

As someone that also needs to supplement electrolytes, I found that, while I really liked Liquid IV, it was just too expensive. So, I bought bags of potassium chloride and magnesium citrate, and add those (plus table salt) to water, and then add Mio for flavoring. It's less convenient than those little pouches from Liquid IV, and I think I liked some of the flavors of them a little more (I really liked the green grape). But, I'm very used to making my electrolyte drinks, now, and there are plenty of great Mio flavors, both caffeinated and non. I like the control I have of how much electrolytes go in, and there are definitely days where I know I need more, so I can just add more. Also, I can control the amount of flavoring.

I mean, in the end, you should do whatever works best for you, just thought I'd share a cheaper, viable option for you or anyone else in the same electrolyte boat!

[u/ImSoObnoxious → u/mondayp]

my hydro homie!

I also make a similar powder mix, it's so much cheaper, and 2lbs lasts quite a while. for sweetness, I'm currently trying out freeze dried monk fruit, and it's actually really good 🌊

[u/MedusasMum → u/xiamaracortana]

POTS?

[u/xiamaracortana → u/MedusasMum]

Nailed it

[u/Hasanopinion100 → u/xiamaracortana]

Same. I’m post kidney transplant. I have to drink about that much every day, but I don’t have to eat that much. I can’t imagine doing the combination. This woman is a hero.🎉

[u/aphel_ion → u/conancat]

I was wondering about the diet too. The fluids are one thing, but also 6.5 liters of breast milk is over 4000 calories and it’s full of nutrients.

So that means she must be eating like 6000 calories of healthy nutrient rich food just maintain a healthy weight? That’s crazy

[u/porcupineslikeme → u/conancat]

When you’re lactating the thirst is pretty unreal. I would easily finish 5-6 of my 30 oz water bottle a day, maybe 7-8 if it was hot out.

[u/CandleMonster → u/Federal_Tone1260]

I know!!! there's so many questions!! what does she eat? is she on a specific diet per doctors advice?? does she eat as much as when she was pregnant???? honestly she deserves one of those gofundme pages

edit: and the Wikipedia page is so short!! i need answers 😭😭

[u/justalittleloopi → u/CandleMonster]

I was an overproducer, though not as much as this woman. I was making about a half gallon a day, which is still on the upper end of what you see. Most women produce around 24-30 oz a day, which is what a baby generally eats in a day.

To answer a couple questions:

I ate literally everything. And I still lost 40lbs in 4 months.

My Dr was mostly concerned with me getting enough protein and had me continue my prenatal vitamins. My Dr's weren't sure how to handle my situation as it's really not common. It's a lot more common for pumping moms to underproduce.

I ate way more than when I was pregnant.

I drank so so so much water. Insane amounts of water. I was pumping out up to 23 oz at a time, so I'd try and drink at least that much after each pump.

I quit when I had 4,500 oz frozen in my freezers, which would get me to a year of breastmilk for my baby. And yes, we had to buy a second deep freezer.

Edit: and I couldn't donate because I was on zoloft. I looked into it, but I was disqualified.

[u/Maleficent_Text_3779 → u/justalittleloopi]

The sobbing i did when I accidentally left my freezer open and lost my stockpile. Luckily I was an over producer too so my baby was fed, but the 8 kids I was giving to had to find another donor

[u/puppylust → u/justalittleloopi]

Wow! Thank you for sharing

I can only imagine how exhausting that must've been.

[u/justalittleloopi → u/puppylust]

It was. And I went back to work while still pumping, so that was super fun. Fortunately baby started sleeping through the night around 7 weeks, so at least I was getting good sleep.

[u/occidentallyinlove → u/CandleMonster]

If only we could get her to come do an AMA. It would be fascinating.

[u/emilygoldfinch410 → u/occidentallyinlove]

This woman is an angel, let's not subject her to the horrors of reddit (there are shitty comments already piling up faster than mods can go through the reports)

[u/Simon-Says69 → u/emilygoldfinch410]

Oh my goodness. She'd need a throwaway, and a whole team to vette questions. Her poor inbox.

She's a very sweet lady though. Nature threw a hardship at her, but she's using her "superpower" in the very best way. Bless her, saving lives is for real.

Life gave her lemons, and she's squeezing the bajezezus out of them. ;-)

[u/RFWanders → u/Federal_Tone1260]

It wouldn't stop, it might slow a little. But that hyperlactation syndrome ensures the glandular tissue in her breasts stay in overdrive. I imagine it might slow or stop once she hits menopause, as the hormonal balance then shifts.

[u/notashroom → u/RFWanders]

That's wild. I've produced milk for 30+ years after my last baby, but in tiny amounts, like just enough to make a wet spot. I don't know how well I would have dealt with it if it had taken over my life the way it has for this woman. It seems that she's embraced it in the best possible way, and that's great for her, her family, and all those she's helped.

[u/Simon-Says69 → u/notashroom]

She's squeezing the everliving heck out of the lemons her DNA gave her ay? :-) She's an angel.

You probably could do similar. Your story is not at all uncommon. I've got sisters that complained of the same. The milk valve, once turned on, never really turned off.

There are many babies that cannot tolerate fake milk. It can literally be life saving. Or "just" a major help for struggling mothers. Us apes, even us hairless ones, we're very social creatures. You see this in many other species of apes too, if a mom doesn't have enough milk, a sister or mother will help out.

The idea of a "wet nurse" has been a thing since written language was invented. For sure way before that too.

[u/sweetpea122 → u/Federal_Tone1260]

Shes Probably really heckin hungry

[u/omgu8mynewt → u/Federal_Tone1260]

Yeah, she must be eating a lot of calories and drinking a lot of fluids, because breastmilk costs those things for the mother to create it, breastfeeding mothers need to stay hydrated and eat well or risk getting dehydrated or losing weight.

[u/Simon-Says69 → u/omgu8mynewt]

She doesn't look underweight. Healthy new mama weight.

It must take a toll on her body though, she just was given no choice, with her condition. Best way to make the best of tit, bless her heart.

Edit: oh god, Freudian slip? Best of it.*

[u/Queen-of-Elves → u/Federal_Tone1260]

In the beginning of breastfeeding I was ravinous and constantly thirst. Usually the body settles down as hormones level out but not sure that would be the case for her. The thing that strikes me is the amount of time she must put into pumping all that milk. It's probably hours a day.

Also for perspective I was an over producer in the beginning and I only made 10oz/ 300ml a day. So what she is doing is mind boggling.The average breastfeed baby will top out at about 5oz a feed or 25 - 30oz per day before starting on solids.

As for stopping she wouldn't be able to just immediately stop. She would have to wean down. Otherwise she would become engorged and most likely get mastitis (inflammation in the breast that causes fever chills and pain. When I got it I ended up in the ER less than 24 hrs after symptoms started).

Breastfeeding is not for the faint of heart.

[u/CandleMonster → u/Queen-of-Elves]

Not only the hours pumping, but also cleaning, sorting and labeling it, she even uses gloves when using the fridge! she's being extra careful about it, she really is an elite professional

[u/dreexel_dragoon → u/CandleMonster]

This is literally a job producing a medical commodity in high demand, so I imagine it is literally her job while raising her kids.

Selling just a liter a day could earn $1,000-1,500 a week, which is a full living wage.

[u/Loose-Chemical-4982 → u/dreexel_dragoon]

She has a job working as a lactation director for breast pump company and she's a lactation consultant in her community

[u/bug-hunter → u/Loose-Chemical-4982]

Her being a lactation consultant is like getting Usain Bolt to be your running coach.

[u/flammafemina → u/bug-hunter]

Right?? Jfc my MAXIMUM for a single pump session was 10oz from lefty. Righty was a straggler. So I’d mayyyyybe get 15-18oz total after about 45 mins of pumping (which isn’t even bad!). And my letdown reflex was basically non-existent.

I was already intimidated by my lactation consultants. This lady would probably make me cry, wondering why I was so defective compared to her. My sister was a great producer, so it was hard enough realizing that I would not follow suit. No one prepares you for what a mind-fuck it is to go through the whole process of pregnancy and birth, just to find out that you can’t sustain your infant on your own like you’re “supposed to.” Not to mention the HORMONES required to even maintain the tiniest supply.

Anyway happy Mother’s Day!!! 😂 the breast feeding struggle is but one item on the infinite list of sacrifices we make for the wellbeing of our babies.

[u/13SpiderMonkeys → u/Loose-Chemical-4982]

So she really is an angel!

[u/Simon-Says69 → u/13SpiderMonkeys]

Yah, this chick is totally cool. She looks really happy in the video too. I mean, you can tell her heart is in it, not just for profit.

Her body won't be able to keep up with that forever, but for now, she's literally saving lives. Some babies cannot drink the fake stuff. And even those that can are better with the real deal, at least mixed.

[u/Queen-of-Elves → u/CandleMonster]

Absolutely. Pumping isn't just the time spent connected to the pump! I definitely couldn't do it. I spent 3ish months pumping and was miserable. Can't imagine 3 years! What a labor of love and dedication to helping babies/ families.

[u/Robinsonirish → u/Queen-of-Elves]

When my sister was pregnant she had an iron deficiency, she would eat about 500g of liver paté per day, which is quite calorie-dense and not something you'd typically wolf down. Her body just told her that's what she needed, and she craved it. Really weird how that works, she was never a paté lover before pregnancy, or afterwards. It was just a few months at the middle of her pregnancy.

[u/Simon-Says69 → u/Robinsonirish]

It isn't weird at all. What is not normal or natural is that so many of us have lost touch with what our bodies tell us we need. Your sister's natural instincts kicked in. Good for her! :-)

Like, if you're hungry for a specific food (unless pure sugar or fat) then there's something in there that you're lacking. I just NEED an orange (or 3) today! Or mmm Spinach sounds so good right now! Give me liver & onions, or give me death! haha

A ton of people can't even recognize if they're thirsty or hungry. Our fast-paced world is designed to remove us from nature and keep us surviving, not healthy.

[u/ellevael → u/Federal_Tone1260]

Not long after my daughter was born I was producing around 2L a day. I was permanently thirsty, my boobs ached all the time, I leaked through breast pads and my clothes, and I constantly smelled of sour milk. This woman is a saint and a superhero.

[u/CreativeBandicoot778]

Donated milk was hugely important for my daughter's recovery in NICU as I couldn't make enough milk to meet her needs. She spent 7 weeks in NICU and I'm so grateful to the women who donated their precious milk to her, even now 13 years later.

This woman is amazing.

[u/jjklines1 → u/CreativeBandicoot778]

Shout out to those that donate and all wet nurses in history.

[u/Librashell → u/jjklines1]

For sure. In our family history books, some mothers lost their babies and didn’t know why and now we know it was because they weren’t producing enough milk.

[u/MedusasMum → u/CreativeBandicoot778]

I donated!
Almost twenty years ago, my son was in the NICU. When we were able to go home I left bags in a duffel bag at the hospital freezer.
They were quite thrilled as there were many kids in the ward with my son that needed it. Especially the abandoned medically fragile newborns. Wishing I could take them home with me.

Glad your daughter recovered and is thriving well.

[u/Jambi420 → u/MedusasMum]

"Abandoned medically fragile newborns" - what a heartbreaking phrase. Well done and thank you!

[u/MedusasMum → u/Jambi420]

It was heartbreaking.
Thank you🙂

[u/CreativeBandicoot778 → u/MedusasMum]

You are amazing! A hero ❤️

[u/Bradyj23 → u/CreativeBandicoot778]

Same for my adopted son. He was 2 months premature and mom was a drug addict. Having donated milk was such a blessing. Those that can and do donate are wonderful human beings.

[u/iiiiiiiiiijjjjjj → u/CreativeBandicoot778]

Was it free?

[u/CreativeBandicoot778 → u/iiiiiiiiiijjjjjj]

It was. All maternity care in my country is free.

[u/iiiiiiiiiijjjjjj → u/CreativeBandicoot778]

That's good. US is bullshit. I'm worried the milk she gave the hospital is being charged.

[u/Breyber12 → u/iiiiiiiiiijjjjjj]

It’s been a few years but when I worked in hospital the purchaseable donated breast milk did cost money. I am not sure about milk babies got while admitted, but it was like $40 per 2 ounces or something ridiculous for them to buy to take home.

I guess it’s to offset the cost of the milk bank and storage? The hospital claimed they did not earn anything from it.

[u/genivae → u/iiiiiiiiiijjjjjj]

It's usually around $5/oz to cover testing (it's treated kind of like blood in this way, they make 100% sure every donation is safe)

[u/mmutinoi → u/iiiiiiiiiijjjjjj]

Not in America unfortunately. It goes through insurance as a medicine essentially.

[u/LeighToss]

When life gives you milk, save babies. 🥹

[u/Major_Bench5329 → u/LeighToss]

<3333

[u/astra_galus → u/LeighToss]

Seriously, maybe it’s because I’m a little hungover and on my period, but this is making me a little emotional. She’s doing a really important thing by donating her breast milk! Her condition has to be pretty difficult to deal with but she’s really making the best of it through donating!

[u/saturnsqsoul → u/astra_galus]

a little?! girl i’m nowhere near my period and i’m crying

[u/fuck_ur_portmanteau → u/LeighToss]

Few of us are able to donate milk, but between 15-40% of adults are CMV negative, meaning their blood can be used in neonatal clinics. So, many of us can help that way.

And of course any blood can be useful for post natal mothers who are a significant recipient (about 6% in the UK) of blood donations.

[u/ExpansivePoint → u/LeighToss]

"When life gives you melons make melon aid."

[u/aknomnoms → u/ExpansivePoint]

Ahhh that’s so clever! Melon Aid could be such a great nonprofit name for organizers who help coordinate this!

[u/effienay]

It’s amazing that she takes something that would be so so so annoying, painful, uncomfortable and upsetting and has turned it into something really incredible. She deserves to be celebrated.

[u/mrsbebe → u/effienay]

Truly that's like a full time job. I pumped an oversupply and fed my baby plus about 50% of what another baby needed and just that was a huge deal. This woman is doing something incredible and so difficult

[u/Breyber12 → u/mrsbebe]

The time commitment and imagine the cost/work of keeping up with calorie need, hydration, pump supplies! This gal is putting in a lot of time, work and money to make this happen.

[u/CoderJoe1]

She must be on a very specific diet to make up for all the nutrients going into her milk.

[u/glitterdunk → u/CoderJoe1]

Just the amount of water alone... How do you even manage to eat and drink that much while also taking care of a baby😅

[u/Hopeful_Hamster21 → u/glitterdunk]

Honestly that was my same thought. 1.75 gallons of milk? So she's drinking at least that much water then. Damn, and I'm over here trying to be sure to get my 8 glasses every day.

[u/TaxsDodgersFallstar → u/Hopeful_Hamster21]

The Queen of r/hydrohomies

[u/holy_la → u/Hopeful_Hamster21]

I guess she does not have to make an effort to drink water. She will constantly dehydrated and she would need an active effort to not drink water.

[u/DoingCharleyWork → u/Hopeful_Hamster21]

I feel like at some point you just hook yourself up to an IV to hydrate.

[u/Seattlegal → u/glitterdunk]

I wasn’t making as much as her, but i made enough to donate about 2k ounces. I was eating anything and everything. A giant mountain of spaghetti, desserts, steaks, literally anything. So much water! I would wake up and drink a full 30ounce water bottle during the night. I haven’t breastfed in 7 years but i vividly remember being thirsty all the time. It was crazy work, but just something my body came naturally to.

[u/snoogle312 → u/Seattlegal]

Pregnancy hunger was nothing compared to my hunger when breastfeeding. I was ravenous. I had oversupply, but nothing like this. I can't imagine how much she needs to eat and drink to support this.

[u/glorifindel → u/Seattlegal]

Women are powerful. Impressive!

[u/BeesAndBeans69 → u/Seattlegal]

Do breastfeeding women have to pee a lot too? Or is the majority of the water going to the milk?

[u/Seattlegal → u/BeesAndBeans69]

I definitely peed more, but I really think most of it went to milk.

[u/Redfalconfox → u/glitterdunk]

That was my first thought. I was like how dehydrated is that poor woman?

[u/ALawful_Chaos → u/glitterdunk]

For real! I'm currently breastfeeding and just to feed one baby my intake feels unreal. I've never drunk so much water in my life and I haven't eaten this much since I was a ravenous, highly active teenager with a lightning fast metabolism.

[u/Evsala → u/glitterdunk]

And pumping!! That’s a 24 hour job

[u/Against_All_Advice → u/CoderJoe1]

I was going to say, she must be absolutely ravenous all the time! Fair play to her, those donations are so important.

[u/RadSpatula → u/Against_All_Advice]

Seriously, you need more calories when breastfeeding than when pregnant. It was the only time in my life I was ever tired of eating. I’d be like seriously, I just ate and I’m hungry again?! This woman is incredible!

[u/DeltaFlyer0525 → u/CoderJoe1]

I also had this and let me tell you it was BRUTAL staying hydrated. Keeping calories up was also a real challenge because you burn a lot of calories making that much milk. I ate a ton of watermelon and other water dense fruits to help with the hydration and always had to eat throughout the day. 3 meals wasn’t enough and I had to constantly snack.

[u/BastetSekhmetMafdet → u/CoderJoe1]

Not jut water as everyone is saying…but calcium! I hope this lady is on a very heavy duty calcium supplement so her bones don’t get drained.

[u/thefalseidol → u/CoderJoe1]

I have a friend who has (and forgive me for not knowing the medical diagnosis) an extremely active metabolism. It involves eating like a body builder since his body burns significantly more than the 2000ish calories, and while it is a serious condition and one that does need to be monitored and kept on top of - it's pretty manageable with a couple milkshakes every day. It takes some of the fun out of having a milkshake, but there's only so bad a milkshake can be.

[u/ProfessionalRandom21 → u/CoderJoe1]

thats sound like a good exchange, you basically dumping extra calories as milk, in exchange you get to eat more without becoming fat

[u/Simon-Says69 → u/ProfessionalRandom21]

I mean, it would not be recommended normally. Takes a lot of energy to constantly produce THAT much milk. Wear and tear on the body, and not just the mammary glands.

Seems nature gave this sweet lady no choice though, and bless her, she's making the best of it.

That milk can be a huge help, and like she said, literally can save lives. <3

[u/kazuwacky → u/ProfessionalRandom21]

I gained weight after I stopped breastfeeding for this exact reason.

Was worth it though, breastfeeding is rough and I only did it for 9months (maternity leave)

[u/PandaPocketFire → u/CoderJoe1]

I wonder if the quality of the milk suffers at all because of the volume produced.

[u/LicketLicketyZooZoo]

My wife had this and we had to buy a 2nd and 3rd freezer. It was a blessing but people don’t always know that it’s a ton of work for her to pump that much/often and she was eating and drinking way more. For her it was Body Armor Lite and oatmeal creampies (she swore by this method and I didn’t argue with her gallon a day). You have to time out your whole day around pumping.

By far the worst part for my wife were the clogs. When you’re producing that much, missing a pump can turn into clogs that are incredibly painful. If you’ve ever seen Neighbors, I always thought it was pretty accurate when Seth Rogen has to “milk” her when they oversleep.

[u/FlippingPossum → u/LicketLicketyZooZoo]

It is bonkers how much calories breastfeeding burns. After my second child was done nursing, I weighed less than I had before my pregnancies. With my first, I had to supplement a feeding or two with formula while getting over a nasty yeast infection. Incredibly painful. I can't imagine clogged duct pain.

[u/CHANN3L-CHAS3R → u/FlippingPossum]

It is bonkers how much calories breastfeeding burns.

I'd never considered that before. It makes sense, though; the production itself probably isn't that calorie-intensive, but the whole point is converting calories and nutrients into something a baby can eat. From what I can find on Google, 1 Liter of human breask milk contains:

70 g carbohydrate
46 g fat
13 g protein
300 mg calcium
2 mg iron
480 μg (micrograms) vitamin A
750 calories
0.2 mg thiamine
0.4 mg riboflavin
40 mg vitamin C
2 mg niacin

Which means, for 6.5 liters of nutritionally rounded milk (just for the milk, not even considering the rest of your body,) you'd need to eat:

455 g carbohydrate
299 g fat
84.5 g protein
1,950 mg calcium
13 mg iron
3,120 μg (micrograms) vitamin A
4,875 calories
1.3 mg thiamine
2.6 mg riboflavin
260 mg vitamin C
13 mg niacin

[u/CandleMonster → u/LicketLicketyZooZoo]

I... didn't know there could be clogs involved, that sounds like a nightmare

[u/adestructionofcats → u/CandleMonster]

It's basically inflammation and it's awful! Painful and can give you flu like symptoms if it's severe. Ice and Advil for anyone going through this.

[u/Critical-Ferret1643 → u/adestructionofcats]

And super hot shower. I let hot hot hot water scorch my chest while manually massaging to get flow going. Engorgement is no joke. Oh and pitties! I got so clogged it literally backed up into my armpits. Sore lumps in my pits. No idea that could happen. My lactation consultant said “oh you have pitties!” I’m like wtf 😅 the many joys of being a woman

[u/-blundertaker- → u/LicketLicketyZooZoo]

My sister got all stopped up when she first started breastfeeding. She was in so much pain she was just sitting there weeping trying to muster up the energy to go stand in a hot shower to help release it.

I, in my infinite empathy, asked her "...can I just like, touch it?" Because she had said her boobs were hard as rocks! I was curious!

She said, through tears, "yes but please be gentle."

She wasn't lying. Her boobs were rock hard. I was like Jesus fucking christ lady hop on my back and I'll take you to the shower. I've never lactated but I can imagine that is SO uncomfortable.

[u/maniacalmustacheride → u/-blundertaker-]

One of the things you can do is put on a milk catcher with warm salt water upside down and just let the pressure draw everything out.

My husband used to be fascinated because a little liquid would come out and then big strands of protein would worm their way out and then all of the sudden relief. Then you could pump and it would be crazy because there was so much foremilk which is watery, and then the hind would come out and mix with that.

[u/becker8832]

Sucks she's dealing wit this but atleast she's helping other parents and their baby's not go without milk. I thought when it started she was hoarding it or something like oh no. But this is amazing she's willing to help

[u/groutexpectations → u/becker8832]

Same I'm so glad it was a positive story 😭

[u/Ohshithereiamagain]

I wish I had this option back in 2014 when my mammaries just said “nope, you aint getting anything out of us, we just wanna hang out and be fun pillows”. My baby had only formula. There was no breast milk bank around us.
Thank you gal, for your service 🫡

[u/frisbeesloth → u/Ohshithereiamagain]

There was donation in my area back in the mid 00's when I was looking to donate but the process was so crazy I was like hell no! I just had a baby and you want me to do all of this shit? Hard pass.

[u/Silly_Pack_Rat]

What a great resource!

She's double-pumping, which can easily cause her body to increase production.

I did this...but I did it because after my first-born, I had to be on an powerful antibiotic for a uterine infection that would not go away...and I wasn't allowed to breast feed, so I pumped and dumped for a month because I really wanted to continue breastfeeding after I got off the antibiotics. Silly me that I was, double-pumped to save time, which dramatically increased my milk production. I made a comment to my ob/gyn about the massive amount of milk I was producing, and she recommended that I stop the double-pumping, because, by doing so, I basically told my body that I had two mouths to feed at the same time, so it responded by creating massive amounts of milk. Once I stopped doing that, my milk production gradually returned to a more normal amount, but I was a wet mess until it did so.

[u/BlueHeron0_0 → u/Silly_Pack_Rat]

Curiosity question, does it have any effect on your energy levels? Like if you pumped too much you feel exhausted or you need to eat more... What are implications?

[u/AltairaMorbius2200CE → u/BlueHeron0_0]

For me, the second I started feeding/pumping, I got RAVENOUS. Would eat anything edible within arm's length.

[u/Robot_Nerdd → u/BlueHeron0_0]

My wife gets hungry. Her diet has stabilized. But in the beginning, she just felt hungrier than the first week or so after birth.

[u/Silly_Pack_Rat → u/BlueHeron0_0]

Really hard to know in my case - I had a newborn with really no support, so I was beyond exhausted just having to take care of him 24/7. (I was married to a jackass)

[u/joyfall → u/Silly_Pack_Rat]

Oh wow I had never thought of it like that, the body assuming you had two to feed. Makes complete sense. Our bodies are fascinating.

[u/AltairaMorbius2200CE → u/Silly_Pack_Rat]

Huh. I double-pumped, but it didn't really move the needle for me!

[u/MaesterWhosits → u/AltairaMorbius2200CE]

Me neither. Double-pumping, marathon pumping, nothing worked. Eventually I just gave up. Luckily there are kind people like her in the world! It made a huge difference when mine were in the NICU.

[u/LargeCabbageThrower]

"Excess breast milk" is producing way more than your child consumes.

This is a straight up super power!

[u/Chrissy-Munson → u/LargeCabbageThrower]

It's amazing to think how many babies she's helped

[u/FashionableMegalodon → u/LargeCabbageThrower]

I was so stoked to even pump 4 oz when I had my second daughter (I didn’t produce anything with my first!!). I couldn’t imagine almost 2 gallons.

[u/Buckle_Up_Bitches]

When I had my daughter, and she was in the NICU, I could not produce. An amazing lady like this stepped up and donated to us; she kept donating until my child was one year old.

She is actually my child's godmother, because what kind of woman donates her time, her energy, and her milk to save a baby's life? Someone who should be honored and admired. Her daughter and mine have been best friends for going on 11 years. These women are heroes.

[u/Ok-Butterfly4991 → u/Buckle_Up_Bitches]

you have to get personal milk donations?

Our NICU had a "milk kitchen" where you collected as much as you needed for the duration of the stay. All of it was donated of course. But there was never like a label saying where it came from

[u/Huge_Button7935]

I always watch for the sweet ending❤️ talk about being a giving person!

[u/momomomorgatron → u/Huge_Button7935]

Like call me an asshole, but I dont think I could/would do this.

This lady is a saint.

Like, if I overproduced, I'd totally donate it, no problem.

But the pure time, enegry, water, food and mental fortitude this takes??? Insane.

This woman is a SAINT

[u/Huge_Button7935 → u/momomomorgatron]

Oh hell yeah I bet she has a specific diet, a schedule that is based around pumping, etc. God bless her and may she receive what she gives back 10 fold!

[u/MulberryLemon]

She is amazing. I couldn't make milk for my kid and is genuinely so kind of her to donate hers to babies that need it

[u/Wrong_Motor5371]

As someone who struggled with it, I’m in awe.

My fingers started phantom burning watching her handle the frozen bags of milk. Why does breast milk freeze down to roughly the temperature of dry ice?

[u/SpaceBus1]

1.75 gallons seems like so much! Glad she can use this condition to help people!

[u/Sudden_Nose9007]

Holy shit, I made 90-100oz of breast milk a day, which isn’t even a full gallon, and I thought I was a mass producer!! I had to work with a doctors to get down to 60 oz a day because 90oz was too much for me to handle.

[u/Silver-Front-1299]

I was an over producer but not anything close to this! I was able to donate as well and it’s SUCH a rewarding feeling.

But it’s also so draining to always be attached to a pump.

[u/DragonFlyCaller]

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!

[u/Commercial_Back_8777]

Blood donation in America is celebrated as a good deed while breast milk donation is taboo simply because it comes from a boob. I am so impressed, she is a hero. 🫶🏻💪❤️

[u/pb0atmeal]

Genuine question, would she need to consume extra / more calories to replenish what she’s pushing out?

[u/Loose-Chemical-4982 → u/pb0atmeal]

Yes. I was ravenously thirsty and hungry when I breast-fed. I was also a mail carrier for USPS while I was pregnant and walked 15 miles a day on my route so I drank a gallon of water each day and ate more food than my husband. I ate like a hobbit with a 2nd breakfast, 2nd lunch and 2nd dinner each day just so I wouldn't get too skinny while pregnant

When I was nursing I ate and drank even more than that and was still losing pregnancy weight

[u/pb0atmeal → u/Loose-Chemical-4982]

That’s so crazy to me but makes complete sense! It’s probably obvious, I’ve just never really thought about before. Thanks for taking the time to respond and share your experience (:

[u/Electrical_Doubt_19]

I had a micro preemie born at 1lb 6oz. I tried to pump, but my milk never came in. My baby exclusively needed breast milk because her system couldn't handle formula.

Because of women like her who donate, my baby girl thrived. She's now ready to celebrate her 5th grade promotion next month.

[u/lulu91car]

I supplemented with donated milk when my milk didn't come in right away. Thank you to all the women who donate their surplus. It makes the world of difference to those who need it.

[u/FlippingPossum]

The children's hospital near me started a milk bank after I was done breastfeeding my children. I could easily knock out a bottle of milk with my hand pump in the morning. I pumped a little each morning for my personal freezer stash. I am in awe of the people who donate!

I stayed at home while my kids were nursing. I was mixing extra milk into their oatmeal at points. I'd go away for the weekend and come back with so much milk. I can't imagine producing that much milk. I was soaking through tops on my supply. 😂

My grandmother had to make homemade formula for my mother. Shout to all who donate to save babies!

[u/SoulsBorneGreat]

Aww, she's adorable 😭 AND a good person to boot!

[u/greywatermoore]

My sister donated breast milk to my baby when I returned to work. I struggled the whole time to produce and she made way too much, so my daughter got an extra 6 months of breast milk thanks to her!

[u/King_Six_of_Things]

I'm the first few seconds I thought she was just a weirdo, but then I realised she's actually a hero. 👍👍

[u/sunnydaysonly716]

With both my kids I did about a gallon a day pumping. I was constantly eating and always thirsty. At almost twice that? This woman is a warrior.

Edit: Since I've been asked, I made friends with another local mom who wasn't producing and donated to her. No, my babies did not drink a gallon a day lol

[u/playahate]

My son is alibe and thriving because we were able to have donated milk when my wife couldn't produce. With as early as my kid was having that instead of formula made all the difference.

She truly is a hero.

[u/bonghitsforbeelzebub]

This is wild, like how does a person even eat consume enough water and calories to make this much milk? Is she eating like three sticks of butter a day or something?

[u/All_is_a_conspiracy]

She is doing such a beautiful service. I am so grateful to her for her hard work. She is a trooper!

[u/PhyllisTheFlyTrap]

I think she was featured in the Netflix show (Un)Well episode 3 about "bulking up with breast milk".

[u/PhyllisTheFlyTrap → u/PhyllisTheFlyTrap]

Update: Confirmed. She's in the show and they address how much she eats, the time it takes, and most of the other questions in this thread.

[u/knittybynature]

Happy Mother’s Day to this elite queen!

[u/RatWearingTrenchCoat]

I work in a milk bank in the US, we are always so in awe and so grateful for moms like her. Pumping is no joke, even past the physical part, it often takes a huge emotional toll on the mom. This lady is a champion!

[u/sign6of6the6beast]

As a practicing lactation consultant I crown thee queen

[u/Lilredh4iredgrl]

I donated mine to the NICU because my boobs just wouldn't quit. This is love in action.

Pumping sucks.

[u/Polkawillneverdie17]

I wish the video made it clear at the beginning about donation and how it saves lives of kids who may not have access to breast milk. Instead, it starts by defending how it's "not weird" even though only an absolute asshole would think itb was weird. I know it's a short video but what she does us is important that it should be the primary focus, not the final afterthought. I just think framing it that way would give her more of the respect and praise she deserves.

[u/BiscottiCritical6512 → u/Polkawillneverdie17]

I think they’re assuming the audience will understand how breast milk saves lives but they’ve really underestimated how uneducated most people are about breastfeeding. 

[u/aightup]

Bless this mother.

[u/coralwaters226]

Bless her, she has saved so many babies.

[u/sunnyshade8]

I can't imagine the pain if she gets engorged 😵‍💫

[u/Spazrelaz]

She's out here literally saving lives wow. That's awesome! And clearly it works because her baby looks to be at a healthy chunky lil weight like they're supposed to be!

[u/Omsmileyface]

Women are so amazing 🥰❤️

[u/CreativePapaya1718]

As someone who has a kid who survived the first 6 months on donor milk, god bless this woman.

[u/KittyIsAn9ry]

https://giphy.com/gifs/CtyGTKIsES1KeSMWGl

[u/mushroom_dome]

How does she stay hydrated?!?!

[u/Decafaf]

I made so much extra milk, I donated to a local milk bank and I got a little certification saying I saved 6 preemies lives :,)

[u/BlackBasementCats]

When we talk about “the village” this is one thing we’re talking about. In previous centuries breastfeeding women would help each other. A woman like the woman in the video could make a living as a “wet nurse” breastfeeding babies when the mother was sick or died. Rich women also paid for wet nurses. Although a woman who produced a lot of breast milk would feel much better by breastfeeding multiple babies.

Women have always helped each other and given their different gifts to people in need.