"It has felt good to donate milk and be able to give something to babies who are not so lucky and are not blessed with a mother who can breastfeed them."
Debbie S. (breastmilk donor) - Plumstead
"Having had a baby almost 8 weeks early myself, it meant a lot to help other prem babies, without milk from their moms, by donating milk to Milk Matters, a very special organisation that is very close to my heart."
Michelle S. (breastmilk donor) - Greenpoint
"The generous offer of donor milk came as such a relief to me and, maybe because I no longer felt so stressed, I found that my milk supply increased substantially – in fact, I suddenly found that I had more milk than Luca needed! So I decided to donate the extra milk to the breast milk bank."
Debbie K - donor and recipient. (Plumstead)
"I urge any mom out there, wondering if donating milk is for them, to think about how many lives can be saved."
Lisa (breastmilk donor) - Kirstenhof
When can I stop feeding my baby at night?
There is no denying, having a baby is tiring. Sleep depravation is no fun. The advice often given is; "Give your baby extra milk with the evening feed" or "Express so that Daddy can give that as the 2am feed" All well meaning but not always conducive to successful breastfeeding.
Once your baby is 6 weeks or older, you could consider dad giving expressed breastmilk to your baby, for one night feed, once or twice a week.
It would be even better to follow your babies hunger cues and "cluster" feed him in the evenings if that is what he is asking for. He is then far more likely to have a longer sleep during the night. Trying to enforce fewer night feeds could lead to milk reduction, due to the long intervals between feeds.
It could be helpful to have your young baby sleep in your room, even in your bed. Consider the pros and cons. Alternatively Dad could bring baby to you for feeds and or take him back and change his nappy after one or more of the night feeds.
Most babies will require fewer night feeds round 12 weeks, some much sooner. Babies grow all too quickly, don't wish this precious time away.