First of all…thank you!

I’ve checked into the FB page “Human Milk for Human Babies” briefly and I have just one concern: safety!!

I know the breast milk at breast milk banks is extensively screened, but does anyone know if the breast milk is screened before being donated through “Human Milk for Human Babies”?

The little I was able to read about it on their website, it just sounds like you join the FB group and post a thread saying you need breast milk and then someone (a complete stranger) responds to your thread and you go from there getting the donated breast milk.

That is really awesome that so many women are willing and able to donate milk like that, however, safety is a huge concern.

Like I said, I was only able to read about this very briefly so maybe I missed something. If I did, please let me know!!

It was also mentioned that I could try to induce my own lactation.

I haven’t told many people this and I don’t think I’ve shared this on the blog before but…I did actually try to induce lactation with Little Bug so that I could breastfeed her.

I never produced a drop of breast milk, even after being on the domperidone medication for weeks. (No surprise there, really. As I said last night…why would the body who can’t even produce a viable egg be able to produce breast milk?)

After being told I was literally going to have to pump constantly to even attempt getting somewhat of a supply, I gave up because after all I had just been through with infertility treatments, I just wanted to enjoy my new baby girl and not be totally stressed out trying to induce lactation.

My pedi told me to put Little Bug on Similac Allimentum because it is most like breast milk, so even though it was over $25 (without a coupon) a can, that is what Little Bug ate her first 7 months of life. It agreed well with her tummy and that was that.

To even attempt this right now, I think I would have to be insane. I am nearly there, however, I do have one sliver of sanity left that is telling me trying to induce lactation with an energetic 2 year old and a newborn to take care of would be next to impossible to accomplish.

I have other options.

I just keep replaying what Dr. M said on Thursday …

We will get to the bottom of this!

And what my grandfather, who has been deceased for over 25 years, would always say …

This too shall pass!

- Elaine