Thanks everyone! I totally forgot I posted this and it was helpful to go through all of your replies. I'm ok with formula, I just wanted to see if breast milk was an option. It's tough coming from a friend and family culture wherein almost ALL of the babies I know (quite literally) were almost exclusively breast fed. To top it off, my sister is a nurse midwife and lactation guru.She is in New England and is trying to connect me with some donation options. I do have concerns about contamination/medication and all of that, for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I nursed two kids for two plus years apiece. I have donated milk through Human Milk for Human Babies. And I am super pro nursing, but I think you should use formula. Truly. There are some great new brands now (like Bobbie) and it’s gonna save you a lot of hassle, cost, and risk. Frankly the moms who wanted my milk from Human Milk 4 Human Babies were really desperate and while I was glad to give milk, it surprised me that they were so trusting of a total stranger’s body fluids. I have no communicable diseases or anything but it made me feel a little weird, to be honest, to not even have them trust me so blindly for something they were feeding a newborn!

i don't think bobbie is that great. It is actually the only formula that my daughter could not tolerate. It super expensive and not better than grassfed or organic similac.
i agree that using formula is fine.
Personally, though, I used a combination of my own milk, donor milk and formula for my baby.

Bobbie has no probiotics. Kendamil or ByHeart is better.

Anonymous wrote:I nursed two kids for two plus years apiece. I have donated milk through Human Milk for Human Babies. And I am super pro nursing, but I think you should use formula. Truly. There are some great new brands now (like Bobbie) and it’s gonna save you a lot of hassle, cost, and risk. Frankly the moms who wanted my milk from Human Milk 4 Human Babies were really desperate and while I was glad to give milk, it surprised me that they were so trusting of a total stranger’s body fluids. I have no communicable diseases or anything but it made me feel a little weird, to be honest, to not even have them trust me so blindly for something they were feeding a newborn!

i don't think bobbie is that great. It is actually the only formula that my daughter could not tolerate. It super expensive and not better than grassfed or organic similac.
i agree that using formula is fine.
Personally, though, I used a combination of my own milk, donor milk and formula for my baby.

Anonymous wrote:Will you be able to get all the milk from the same donor every time? It might not agree with your baby’s stomach if the milk is coming from different sources.

Yes, this. I have lipase and my daughter got picky about frozen milk. When I donated my milk the person who took it couldn’t get her baby to eat it due to true lipase (I didn’t do the scalding because who had time for that).

I nursed two kids for two plus years apiece. I have donated milk through Human Milk for Human Babies. And I am super pro nursing, but I think you should use formula. Truly. There are some great new brands now (like Bobbie) and it’s gonna save you a lot of hassle, cost, and risk. Frankly the moms who wanted my milk from Human Milk 4 Human Babies were really desperate and while I was glad to give milk, it surprised me that they were so trusting of a total stranger’s body fluids. I have no communicable diseases or anything but it made me feel a little weird, to be honest, to not even have them trust me so blindly for something they were feeding a newborn!

Will you be able to get all the milk from the same donor every time? It might not agree with your baby’s stomach if the milk is coming from different sources.

I donated milk both through a donor bank and the HM4HB Facebook group. In my experience people were very transparent about any relevant health conditions (e.g. medications, diet, etc.) and I don't think people in those groups would have any reason to dilute the milk since all the exchange is done via donation. Personally I would be more hesitant buying milk from someone I didn't know.

If you're concerned about storage condition of the milk or unknown health conditions another option might be reaching out to your networks to see if there's anyone you have more of a personal connection with that may be able to supply you with some of their extra milk? Maybe a neighborhood listserv or a postpartum doula?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about the formula shortage, it’s much better now. And there are European brands now sold in stores so lots of options. I’d be very careful with donor milk that didn’t come from a hospital. So many of us were given formula as babies and are healthy, smart, successful as adults. It really is ok.

There is no formula shortage. It is readily available at Target, Walmart etc.

There is a formula shortage. There is some formula coming on shelves, but it’s mostly generic or regular formula. Even then, it’s sold out fast and you can only buy 2 at a time. Many families are still having issues finding specialized formula. Please stop with such ignorant talk when you’re not educated on the topic. Don’t spread misinformation when you’re not well informed.

Exactly. I was at Target the other day and overheard a couple in the formula aisle saying how the special formula they needed wasn’t there, and they would have to drive to Chantilly (this was at the Rockville Target).

That being said, I would absolutely not use donor milk from internet strangers. Please read this thread for a reality check: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/976675.page

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about the formula shortage, it’s much better now. And there are European brands now sold in stores so lots of options. I’d be very careful with donor milk that didn’t come from a hospital. So many of us were given formula as babies and are healthy, smart, successful as adults. It really is ok.

There is no formula shortage. It is readily available at Target, Walmart etc.

There is a formula shortage. There is some formula coming on shelves, but it’s mostly generic or regular formula. Even then, it’s sold out fast and you can only buy 2 at a time. Many families are still having issues finding specialized formula. Please stop with such ignorant talk when you’re not educated on the topic. Don’t spread misinformation when you’re not well informed.