Real stories, real life heroes
Our community of dedicated milk donors plays a crucial role in supporting our mission. Each donor has a unique journey, a story that echoes the spirit of selflessness and care.
To contribute your story, please use this form.
After struggling with fertility, we turned to treatments and welcomed our daughter, Winnie, in August 2023. Despite initial concerns about breastfeeding, I unexpectedly became an overproducer. As my freezer filled with milk, I discovered the joy of donating to Mothers’ Milk Bank California. It’s fulfilling to nourish my own baby and support others in need. We feel truly blessed to share this journey.
I find immense joy in sharing and donating my liquid gold to the tiniest babies in need. The transformative work that Mothers’ Milk Bank California undertakes is truly remarkable, and I feel deeply honored to contribute to this noble cause. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of the most vulnerable among us.
My daughter’s breastfeeding journey started off pretty rocky with lots of ups and downs. I pumped as much as I could while on leave in case our journey came to an end. I wanted to quit so many times but we kept going and it’s going much better! I want to donate my stash so babies that need it more get it.
My milk came in for the first time in 2020, but I never got to give it to my daughter. She was stillborn, and two days after coming home from the hospital, I woke up around 2 am with excruciating pain in my breasts and armpits. Even though I was told ahead of time that my milk would likely arrive even without a baby to feed, the pain confused and upset me. It was a sharp reminder of the child that I had lost. In the early days of my grief, I would occasionally hand express in the shower and weep, bitterly wishing that the milk was going somewhere other than the drain. Over time, even though I suppressed lactation, the little drops I could get out of my breasts gave me a bit of strange comfort. Their existence remained the last physical connection to my daughter, and evidence that she was real.
As the first in my family to experience the precious journey of breastfeeding, I feel incredibly fortunate. Despite the inevitable challenges, every moment has been a cherished part of this remarkable experience. One of the most fulfilling aspects has been the privilege to share the gift of milk through donation—an opportunity that fills my heart with immense joy and gratitude.
When I first learned that I produce high lipase breastmilk, I was devastated and discouraged. As a first-time mom, I had felt so proud of the hours I had vigorously devoted to my freezer stash. I had meticulously pumped and stored my milk for months only to discover that my son wouldn’t drink it due to its unusual taste. I worried that all my efforts had been in vain.
In the midst of my disappointment, I learned that high lipase breast milk was not only safe and nutritionally viable, but still highly valuable for premature infants who often struggle to digest milk efficiently. I contacted Mother’s Milk Bank and couldn’t have been more thrilled to be approved as a milk donor. It was a revelation – a way to turn what initially seemed like a setback into an opportunity to help vulnerable NICU babies.
I feel incredibly honored to have my stash that would have otherwise gone to waste, contribute to such an incredible cause. As someone with an average supply, I never would have dreamt that I too could become a milk donor. I am thrilled that every ounce I produced will go on to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable. Thank you Mother’s Milk Bank, for giving my high lipase milk a higher purpose!
I am delighted to be an official milk donor to the Mothers’ Milk Bank California. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I assumed I would be able to breastfeed our baby, but that wasn’t our story. When we realized that breastfeeding wouldn’t work for us, I started pumping. I had an oversupply from the outset, so I created a freezer stash. I had never exclusively pumped before, and I had no idea what that journey involved. I just knew I felt strongly about bonding with our son through my milk. As it turns out, pumping is a full-time job in itself. I currently pump every 3-4 hours day and night. My husband wakes up with Tristan to feed him. I wash and sanitize bottles and pump parts. I measure, bag, label, and freeze my milk. I do this all with an open, grateful heart. Our son has been exclusively breast milk-fed since he was a week old. And now we can share the blessing of our milk with NICU babies and their families.
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