Breastfeeding. It's a topic that people usually feel very strongly about one way or the other and unfortunately, is often still seen as a taboo in our country. Of course, so is surrogacy! That's why it's one of the first things that Grant and Russ and I had discussed once we all decided to work together.
I breastfed both of my kids. Unfortunately not for as long as I'd like to have for varying reasons but I wanted to make sure that they at least got some of the benefits of breast milk. When the topic of pumping breast milk came up with the guys, I told them straight and forward that I personally believe that every baby who CAN get fed breast milk should and if that was something they were interested in, I was completely willing. I mean, my milk was going to come in anyway and breast feeding (or rather pumping) was only a benefit to me as I mentioned in my last post. We decided to write pumping into the contract so that it was there if we wanted it.
I'm still waiting for the guys to get home and settled before asking them if they'd like me to send the milk that I've been pumping since their visit this past Monday. I figure once they're home they might be in a better position to decide if that's something they want to continue. But in case they don't want to have to deal with the logistics of shipping, I looked into donation today.
The very first link I clicked on was a blog about mom's being swindled out of their breast milk. (Found at http://www.justwestofcrunchy.com/2011/06/23/swindled-the-ugly-side-of-milk-donation/). Basically, they would think they were donating to a milk bank that provides their milk for needy babies when in fact, it was being used by a company called Prolacta Bioscience, a for profit company to make products for sale.
I'm sure glad that I read this before anything else!!!
Turns out, there are many companies (really just middle man collectors) that turn their milk over to Prolacta. And many of these companies don't make it clear that your milk is not REALLY going straight to needy babies without cost. Worst part of it all, the mother's donating aren't getting any part of the profit that Prolacta is making off of their milk.
So thankfully, because of this blog articleI found the HMBANA website or Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Here, you can find the nearest HMBANA-member milk bank to donate to, in which your milk TRULY goes to infants in need for only small costs to cover their operating costs only.
I breastfed both of my kids. Unfortunately not for as long as I'd like to have for varying reasons but I wanted to make sure that they at least got some of the benefits of breast milk. When the topic of pumping breast milk came up with the guys, I told them straight and forward that I personally believe that every baby who CAN get fed breast milk should and if that was something they were interested in, I was completely willing. I mean, my milk was going to come in anyway and breast feeding (or rather pumping) was only a benefit to me as I mentioned in my last post. We decided to write pumping into the contract so that it was there if we wanted it.
I'm still waiting for the guys to get home and settled before asking them if they'd like me to send the milk that I've been pumping since their visit this past Monday. I figure once they're home they might be in a better position to decide if that's something they want to continue. But in case they don't want to have to deal with the logistics of shipping, I looked into donation today.
The very first link I clicked on was a blog about mom's being swindled out of their breast milk. (Found at http://www.justwestofcrunchy.com/2011/06/23/swindled-the-ugly-side-of-milk-donation/). Basically, they would think they were donating to a milk bank that provides their milk for needy babies when in fact, it was being used by a company called Prolacta Bioscience, a for profit company to make products for sale.
I'm sure glad that I read this before anything else!!!
Turns out, there are many companies (really just middle man collectors) that turn their milk over to Prolacta. And many of these companies don't make it clear that your milk is not REALLY going straight to needy babies without cost. Worst part of it all, the mother's donating aren't getting any part of the profit that Prolacta is making off of their milk.
So thankfully, because of this blog articleI found the HMBANA website or Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Here, you can find the nearest HMBANA-member milk bank to donate to, in which your milk TRULY goes to infants in need for only small costs to cover their operating costs only.
My closest bank is in Raleigh, NC. I'll be contacting them tomorrow during business hours to find out just what's involved in donating!