[EN] Tiffany ~ Surrogate Mother and Donor (Canada)
It all started with a beautiful baby girl, S. As a gestational surrogate, I gave birth to S in 2010. S's parents and I agreed enthusiastically that breastmilk would give S the best start in life, so after nursing S at the breast for the first 8 days of her life, I committed to pumping for the next several months. So began a daily routine that totalled 3 hours of pumping time, and weekly trips to the courier depot, to ship the Liquid Gold half way across the country. But my milk came in with a fury, and I had milk to spare.
I was contacted by a local adoptive mother whose infant daughter, L, had had a “challenging start” in life, and was struggling with some health issues; she felt that L would benefit from breastmilk,so I started donating for her as well. It was so fulfilling watching the collection of full canning jars leave my fridge every few days as L's adoptive father came to pick up the milk. I later donated a small amount to a friend's baby who was in the hospital, with a birth mother who was struggling with some milk supply challenges. Then I connected with baby B, pictured here.
B's mom was an expert in the countless health benefits of breastfeeding and breastmilk, for both babies and birth mothers; unfortunately, she had a rare condition whereby her breasts lacked milk-producing glands. But with B being her second baby, she knew how important it was that she search for milk donors early, and on an ongoing basis to ensure B's first-year diet would be the best possible. And so B and I shared lovely visits every week or two, when I would bring a cooler full of milk, mostly fresh, some frozen, and nurse him for as long as he wanted. B's mom and I enjoyed wonderful conversations during B's nurse-a-thons, and I was so honoured that she welcomed me into B's life in such a special way.
One day when he was about 10 weeks old, mom needed care for B, and I had the privilege of spending a day with him. We cuddled and nursed the day away, and he went home content (and very well fed!) that evening. The last time I nursed B he was just over 5 months old; he consistently refused the breast after that, coming to learn that his food came easier from a bottle, but I continued to donate to B, L, & S through my months of pumping.
All told, I was able to supply S with her full diet through 8 months, and B & L with about 2 months worth of milk each. Being a passionate breastfeeding advocate, doula, and mother, I have never doubted the importance of breastmilk or the nurturing that can come with it; however, B reinforced all this for me in a very real way one day just recently.
I hadn't had any contact with B or his mother for almost a year when I ran into them at a local park. B, just over a year and a half, took one look at me and ran into my arms, with no prompting from either me or his mom. I don't know many toddlers who have great long-term memories, but B sure thought he knew me, somehow. I'll never forget him, or the other little ones I had the privilege of milk-sharing for. I am immensely grateful for their parents' dedication to their little ones' health and overall well-being, and for embracing the milk-sharing philosophy and community alike.
B's mom was an expert in the countless health benefits of breastfeeding and breastmilk, for both babies and birth mothers; unfortunately, she had a rare condition whereby her breasts lacked milk-producing glands. But with B being her second baby, she knew how important it was that she search for milk donors early, and on an ongoing basis to ensure B's first-year diet would be the best possible. And so B and I shared lovely visits every week or two, when I would bring a cooler full of milk, mostly fresh, some frozen, and nurse him for as long as he wanted. B's mom and I enjoyed wonderful conversations during B's nurse-a-thons, and I was so honoured that she welcomed me into B's life in such a special way.
One day when he was about 10 weeks old, mom needed care for B, and I had the privilege of spending a day with him. We cuddled and nursed the day away, and he went home content (and very well fed!) that evening. The last time I nursed B he was just over 5 months old; he consistently refused the breast after that, coming to learn that his food came easier from a bottle, but I continued to donate to B, L, & S through my months of pumping.
All told, I was able to supply S with her full diet through 8 months, and B & L with about 2 months worth of milk each. Being a passionate breastfeeding advocate, doula, and mother, I have never doubted the importance of breastmilk or the nurturing that can come with it; however, B reinforced all this for me in a very real way one day just recently.
I hadn't had any contact with B or his mother for almost a year when I ran into them at a local park. B, just over a year and a half, took one look at me and ran into my arms, with no prompting from either me or his mom. I don't know many toddlers who have great long-term memories, but B sure thought he knew me, somehow. I'll never forget him, or the other little ones I had the privilege of milk-sharing for. I am immensely grateful for their parents' dedication to their little ones' health and overall well-being, and for embracing the milk-sharing philosophy and community alike.
