Has anyone used donor milk before?

It's becoming apparent that my supply is definitely being affected by this pregnancy. DD doesn't have nearly as many wet nappies, and the ones that are wet are not often hugely so. I've been offering more water and solids, but the fact of the matter is, she's just not ready to wean off of milk, she doesn't do much with solids other than play. I am determined to feed her from the breast through this pregnancy, but I'm starting to feel as if she needs a top up now and then, especially in the afternoon.

Has anyone used donated milk before? How were the emotional ramifications on you? Where did you access your donor milk? I'm aware of a number of avenues to explore. Anything important you want to add, or experiences to share?

Yes we used donor milk when the boys were in seperate hospitals. For me there wasnt an emotional aspect of it, i had no choice at the time and them being so sick was consuming my thoughts.
I got my milk from a fellow bb'er who answered my call for help.

I have 2 jars of the fenugreek and blessed thistle here if you want they really helped me for a bit. PM me your addy if you want them and ill post them to you

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Thanks hun. I did have a fantastic BF supplement I took last year when I was going through a stressful time, but as far as I'm aware you can't take fenugreek when pregnant. I've ordered a pregnant friendly one in the meantime.

Oh cant you, what a shame :(

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I considered donating but never got around to it. You could try Human Milk 4 Human Babies - though I'm sure you've looked already :)

I'm getting around to making those lactation cookies I promised you. I'll give them over next time we see each other (bribery ftw!)

Yep, and it all worked out so well. Very lucky to have access to HM4HB.

Remember to keep offering the breast, even if you think she isn't getting anything, the stimulation will help keep the levels up.
When I was pg with DD2, my milk dropped off quite a bit, then came back around 13/14 weeks, so hang in there.
And if you need to use donor milk, use it - there are more than enough women in the world to feed all the babies in the world, and needing help is no reflection on your abilities as a mother or a woman, it takes a village. :)

No but I did donate lots to a special little man.

I'm sure if you asked on BB you'd find someone to help :) Or HM4HB.

Although, I wouldn't think you'd need to. Obviously you know your situation a whole lot better than me but I would just offer water after a feed in the arvo if you thought she was still hungry. Or more solids. How many solids meals is she having a day?

Sometimes 0, sometimes 3. By 'having', she eats less than 1 or 2 teaspoons of actual food. I end up dry on both boobs after each feed and she's still hungry, she'll have some water and then want boob. I let her suck all day and (literally) all night, even when I'm empty, I think it's important to have her on as much as possible :)

I'm certainly not 'there' yet with DBM, but I feel like it may be necessary in a few weeks. What gets me the most I guess is that I know she would not be making a shift away from the boob for a good while of I were not pregnant.

Hopefully as she gets a bit older, if your supply does drop a bit more she will be starting to eat more solids anyway. Fingers crossed! That sounds exhausting PZ :hug:

I felt the same, I knew DD1 wouldn't be weaning if I wasn't pregnant, and she did lose interest a lot, especially in the middle when my supply had dropped but colostrum hadn't started yet. But she never stopped completely, and I always made sure she had at least 2 feeds a day. It all worked out and now I have no idea how she will ever wean, lol.

As always, I'm confident your body and baby will work it all out, hang in there xx

Even if she does end up 100% on donor milk (which I doubt), you can still let her suck for comfort if you're both okay with it, and you'll definitely get your supply back once the new bub is here :hug:

My supply dropped early, but picked back up around 9 weeks. DD dropped down to 3 feeds a day at one point, but she's back up to about 5 trillion now.

Also, a bit after 9 months she seemed to just get the hang of this whole food thing, and started eating far bigger amounts than she had been (previously 1/2-1 tsp, on a good day)

So hang in there! Just see what happens.

stop the guilt pz. seriously. ds1 weaned when i was 25 weeks pg, and i decided i was ok with that. he had had a good run at it- he fed for 14 months and i was ok with that. ds2 came along and fed for 20 months. sometimes things just happen because that happen iykwim? idk, i just don't want you feeling bad for being pg and adding to your family.