Donor appreciation

Lets Talk Donor Appreciation

14 month old Paige enjoying a bottle of donor milk

Your donor doesn’t donate for appreciation.  But pumping sure can get discouraging.  If you’ve ever pumped, you understand.  Better yet, pumped with low supply, is even harder.  Have you ever heard of the saying, “it’s the little things that count”.  Well, that statement is true.  It is the little things that count.  No you can’t possibly pay back your donor.  But you can show your appreciation for what she has done for your little one.  Being thought-ful means that exactly...full of thought-for others! It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.  Maybe a little time and creativity!

 

Webster’s dictionary describes throughtfulness as, "having or showing heed for the well-being or happiness of others and a propensity for anticipating their needs or wishes." That means, giving them what they need to make milk sharing more enjoyable for the both of you.  Milksharing is a two way street.  You can be a giver or a taker.  Which one are you?

Whenever I am out I am always thinking about my donors.  “My donor would like that” or “My donor’s little one would look great in this outfit” or “I’m going to bake something that my donor mom loves!” It brings me GREAT joy to spend any extra money I have on special things that required thought or care.  Gift giving may not be  your strong point. Make a conscious effort to be thoughtful, because after all, look how much has been done for you. You don’t have to do everything on this list below.  These are just some examples.  Everybody has God-given unique talents that they can share. Often times, the most thoughtful thing you could do is offer a note with your heart felt appreciation with a picture of your baby with his or her birth stats.

Examples:

-          Offer a night of free babysitting

-          Chocolates

-          Lactation cookies

-          Breast milk bags (are a given- EVERY TIME)

-          A piece of jewelry that says “milk mama”

-          Diapers / wipes

-          Disposable nursing pads

-          Are you crafty? How about a home made diaper, wipes, or some home made soap?

-          Drop off a meal

-          Flowers

-          Remember her birthday

-          Send a card on mother’s day

-          Remember her children’s birthdays

-       Gift basket

 

     I usually send what I call an update text or email after coming home with the milk with pictures of the baby enjoying her gift of love.  It's seeing their milk in action - so to speak.  It's re-affirming that my baby loves this awesome stuff!

You're building a relationship with this person; a milk sharing relationship.  You may think of yourself as a shy person.  I was very introverted until I started milksharing.  It has enriched my life and helped me to grow as a person in so many ways.  I deeply respect donating moms, I call them my friends for life. 

 

 

 

Bottle Nursing

       

I bottle nurse my Paige. With my first 2 children it didn't happen. In the NICU, they encourage you to feed your baby away from your body, facing in the other direction! Not only was there zero bonding, but their difficult feelings caused a groaning in my soul. 

With bottle nursing you hold your baby close to your chest. She can smell you better, hear your heartbeat, look in your eyes, or play with your lips like Paige does to me :-) 

Oh yes, we certainly bond. Aside from being fed sweet mothers milk, I have come to realize Paige won't, I mean refuses to be fed by anyone but me. You hear a lot about how some babies won't take a bottle. Paige refuses to be fed outside the loving arms of her mama, just as if I were nursing her. Being fed by someone else is foreign territory. How sweet!! Don't grow so fast Paige your mama adores you!

    Satisfied and happy! She is so my little treasure.