Surplus frozen breast milk - but nobody will take it! Suggestions please.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

Hi,

am posting this on behalf of a friend who's baby was born at 33 weeks (and is now doing very well and settled at home 2 weeks on!)

Friend had to express so that she could build up her supply, this was then frozen.

In friend's own words:

I have got a shed load (freezer full) of breast milk that the local milk bank are not allowed to take because I am RH Neg and have had anti D. Their rules have changed as after DD1 I regularly donated, seems silly but rules are rules but what do I do with the milk I pumped damn hard for that I would be devastated to throw it all down the sink any ideas??

when asked if any local hospitals will accept:

that's the nearest one that accepts it the hospital that we were in do not accept it directly, it needs to go through [name of hospital] then they buy it but it is £1000 a pint which is crazy!! It keeps for 6 months but I am fully breast feeding and we will not get through that much

Friend is South England, healthy, is RH Negative and had to have Anti D at the end of the pregnancy.

Does anybody have any ideas of who she could donate to?

Thanks

[dashoflime]

Put it in tea?
Make custard?

[Truffkin]

I'm not entirely sure if I'm missing something here. Can she give it to her own baby?

[Truffkin]

Sorry, just realised she thinks they won't use it. Keep for recipes during weaning?

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

I did suggest going into the ice cream business

Truffkin she is EBF, has no need for the surplus - assuming she does not want/need to introduce a teat IYSWIM (I am guessing there though).

She has a link to this thread btw (is not a MNer though).

[dashoflime]

In all seriousness: I would probably advise her to keep it. Expressing is such a huge hassle and as Tuffkin suggests she may need it.

[PheasantPlucker]

Can these people offer any advice?

www.ukamb.org/

[PheasantPlucker]

(We have connections with them via work)

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

thanks Pheasant - will pass the link on.

dash - good suggestion, thanks.

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

There's an ice cream shop in Covent garden that make BM ice cream. More expensive than gold apparently....

[catlady1]

She could save it until her baby has weaned (if it's still useable by then) and then use it for the odd feed after her supply tails off?

[catlady1]

Or if it won't keep that long she could have her partner/mum/friend etc give her baby a feed once a day and express some fresh at the same time so her supply doesn't dwindle and then freeze the fresher stuff for after her baby is weaned?

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

catlady - it lasts 6 months I think, but again, a possibility thanks.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

oh, good idea catlady!

[bootsycollins]

eBay seriously

[Truffkin]

Catlady's second suggestion is a good one. Expressing is a bloody faff (with hindsight) and I would have killed for the freezer full I once had, when I went back to work. If she can keep up a good stock by using and replenishing then she may well be glad of it later on.

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Natural Not anymore, their ice cream was seized in the past couple of days for safety tests to make sure it is actually fit for human consumption.

It was £14 a go.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

Actually, Im due end of March - I may be putting in a request for her to Fedex some up to me

She used the ukamb people to get the info on the bank that ultimately wouldn't take it due to the Rhesus neg thing

thanks for all suggestions.

[MrsSpencerReid]

Look up human milk for human babies on Facebook, they support milk sharing I'm sure there is someone out there that would be really grateful for it

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

I think that was Feb 2011 Schro, am sure they are (or were) back selling it.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

Mrs thanks - will pass on!

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Ohh, you're right. Silly me.

Well done them!

[Inertia]

I'd do what Catlady said- if your friend doesn't want to introduce bottles, she could give the milk in a Tommy Tippy style cup once the baby is a few weeks old (using up the oldest milk first). As long as she expresses during the missed feed her supply should be ok.

Once they begin to wean, your friend can make up some of the baby's meals (baby rice, cheese sauce etc) using

[Inertia]

...the expressed milk.

[MrsSpencerReid]

Also, I expressed as DS was prem and froze, all as per kellymom guidelines but it had gone off when I went to use it and I was very sad!! So if she does keep it bare this in mind!

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

Thanks for all advice and suggestions - think she is going to use as much of it herself as possible.

Such a shame to not be able to donate, but am sure it will be a godsend to her in the coming months.

Will let her know that it may go off MrsSpencerReid thanks.