Share your story
We love a good story. Do you have one to share about your experience with the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin? Share your story and baby pictures!
Kensie's Gift
Everything had gone according to plan. This was good for me, because I am a very stick-to-the-plan type of person. My baby, Kensie, was born 40 weeks and 1 day (one day off of the “plan”) and was a perfect 7lbs, 2oz, 21.5” baby girl. She latched on perfectly the first time, and fed like a champ. Three days after being released from the hospital, she was already back to her birth weight, thanks to my milk coming in with a vengeance!
The fourth week of her life, just as I am just sitting down to nurse her for an evening feed, we get a call from our pediatrician. Her two-week newborn screen had come back showing she had tested positive for a metabolic disorder called Galactosemia. In lay terms, Kensie has an under-active enzyme that is responsible for breaking down the milk sugar, galactose. We were instructed to cease breastfeeding immediately and start giving her soy formula (no milk products whatsoever).
At four months of age, we were to do a weeklong “milk challenge” and then retest her blood levels. If she didn’t latch, I could feed her the stored milk I would stock up on over the next three months. As a huge breastfeeding advocate, I chose to continue pumping. I pumped four times a day and got over 20 ounces a day. All this milk went to the freezer.
At four months, my baby girl latched back on like she had been nursing all her life! Through many more blood tests, it was determined that she was breaking the milk sugar down enough to be kept on breast milk! There was no question in my mind what I was going to do with all my stored milk. I saved just enough I thought Kensie might need and donated the rest of the 850 ounces, freeing up a ton of freezer space!
It was my intention all along to donate the milk. Truthfully, knowing that this milk was going to be used to help others is what got me through this trying time and the 3+ months of pumping. Kensie and I are so happy to be able to provide the nourishment that will make a difference in others lives. My husband and I like to think of it as her gift to other little babies out there. We praise God every day for the health of our baby and for the opportunity to help other families in need. Thank you Mother’s Milk for everything that you do. You are truly helping God perform miracles! -- Jenny & Kensie
Big Strides
"Lila Bridget came into the world 12 weeks early, at 28 wks and 3 days weighing in at 1 lb., 3 oz - that is a mere 19 ounces! After the shock of learning I had asymptomatic preeclampsia, baby had to be born in order to survive. After the abrupt delivery, I wondered and worried looking at her in her glass nest, the incubator, how she would survive this passage into life that brought her to the world too soon. Little did I know that would become her home for the next five months.
The hospital where she was born in Houston had started a collaboration with Mothers' Milk Bank Austin just 7 days prior to her birth. Lila was the first recipient of donated milk at the hospital. While I was not able to provide more than a few ounces of milk because I needed to be on medication for my newfound condition, what got her through the critical first days, weeks which turned into months was donated milk. I was so incredibly thankful for the Mothers who generously participated in the program - my baby was alive thanks to strangers whose good hearts made the difference in our family and Lila's well being.
I will always be thankful and remember why she is here with us today - thanks in grand part to her "Other Mommies" as I like to call the Donors. 
My daughter is now six months and has been thriving at home for one month. She is recovering from complications due to prematurity and progressing with such strong willpower. Her tiny feet make big strides every day toward a healthy existence and promising future.
Thank you Mothers' Milk Bank for continuing the work I started, and providing what and when I was not able on my own. Even though I am her Mom, she has a special Donor Family: those who gave her vital nutrients, starting with 2 milliliters at a time through very delicate and tough times when it was possible she was not going to make it. Eternally thankful and moving forward, nothing is stopping us now!" -Laura
Giving Back
My son Tyler was born 4 weeks early. He was 4 pounds, 5 ounces - small for that stage of pregnancy due to what I was told was called Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). In order to keep his weight from dropping while waiting for my mine to come in, Tyler was given donor milk for the 1st 2 days of his life. I was so grateful that this was possible!
I'm sure that largely because of this donation of nutrition, he was able to avoid needing NICU services & was also able to stay with me in the birthing center and to go home with me without an extended hospital stay.
In an effort to stimulate my milk to come in ASAP, I began pumping immediately after delivery - every 3 hours as I would normally feed. Consequently, my milk came in in droves - I could have fed triplets, I'm pretty sure! I froze piles of extra milk. It took about 6 months for Tyler's consumption to catch up with my production. I was, therefore, able to donate almost 200 ounces of milk to the Mother's Milk Bank.
This made me feel like I had been given the opportunity to say 'Thank You' in actions as well as in words for the gift that was given to me, my son, & my family as he began his life. I've long since stopped breast feeding. Tyler is now a 6 year old Kindergartener, & his little sister Ashley is 4. However, in lieu of milk my family continues a tradition of making a monetary donation to the Milk Bank every Mothers' Day - in honor of my kids' two grandmothers & in remembrance of the day that I first became a mom myself. -Julie Mankinen
The Right Thing To Do 
Lisa Maria started sleeping through the night soon after she was born. Lucky me! This meant, however, waking up in the middle of the night to extract my milk. Within a couple weeks time, I had an abundant supply of milk sitting in my freezer, way more than I knew Lisa would ever need. I had once heard about the opportunity to donate milk but didn't pay much attention to it until a nurse mentioned it again at a breastfeeding support group. She talked about the importance of providing this milk to ill and premature babies who cannot tolerate formula on their fragile systems. This is when I knew I had to do whatever it takes to share my blessing, my extra milk, with those in need. That's when I knew I had to donate my milk because it was the right thing to do. -Andrea Ramirez
Miracles
My son, Ridley, was born on his due date. When you carry a baby 40 weeks, you walk into labor confident that everything will be OK with your baby's health. Unfortunately, my son was born with a bacterial infection, fighting to breathe. He was immediately taken to the NICU, and I couldn't hold him, much less breastfeed him. I diligently pumped to provide for him. Little did I know, I was establishing a healthy milk supply.
Ridley spent very few days in the NICU - only 10 - but in our daily visits my husband and I saw preemies and babies with birth defects fighting for life. We noticed these babies' parents who had visited their babies for months and months. That experience changed me forever and makes me even more thankful to have a healthy baby at home. With these blessings, I feel a gentle nudge to do something to give back to God's children. I'm pumping extra milk to donate to the Austin Milk Bank in honor of my little NICU Graduate. Maybe this milk will give hope to other NICU babies and parents. -Hilary Marchbanks
"I am a mommy to an almost 3 year old named Jonathan. In the beginning of my pregnancy with Jonathan I had acomplication that could have caused me to have a miscarriage, but through many prayers I delivered a 6lb 12oz beautiful baby boy. Breastfeeding was an automatic decision for me. I went back to work when Jonathan was 2 1/2 months old. I was pumping over 20 ounces of milk while at work, and he was drinking approximately 12 ounces while at the babysitters. I am a Registered Nurse and found out at the hospital that I could donate to the Mothers Milk Bank. So with GREAT excitement I did. It truly was a privilege. I donated 280 ounces of what I call "liquid gold". I felt that God blessed me with Jonathan and gave me this abundance of milk for a purpose. I didn't want any drop going to waste.Thank you Mothers Milk Bank of Austin for giving me the opportunity to share my blessings." -Katherine Esteban
“Jada Reese Alter, our one-pound eight-ounce active baby girl, spent four months in the NICU, until she was big and strong enough to come home. Jada is the sister of Reese, her twin, who was called home to be with the Lord Jesus. Jada was born at 23 weeks 4 days gestation, and although she had multiple surgeries, she is a true MIRACLE. Over the last five months, I pumped breast milk for Jada, as I knew the importance (life and death) that fresh breast milk has. However, I didn’t stop there. I was blessed with an abundance of milk; thus I was able to bless others through the Milk bank with over 2,350 oz! Today, at 6 months old, Jada weighs 11 pounds, rolls over, and loves to socialize and read books!” - Allison Alter
From Recipient to Donor
“My daughter Kylie was born two months premature. For the first few days of her life, when it counted the most, she received donor breast milk until mine came in. She ended up spending three months to the day of her birth at Texas Children’s NICU due to complications. During her stay, I pumped and stored most of my supply at the Milk Bank at TCH. She was so tiny and was not a very big eater. She wasn't keeping up with my supply and barely making a dent. I was actually alerted that they were running out of room in their freezers for my stash alone. Where most moms utilized one freezer, I occupied three. They suggested I donate since my home freezer was also full to capacity. I did donate, 704 ounces, so I am told. I'm glad that I was able to help when babies needed me, like some wonderful mother did for my Kylie. Thank you, Milk Bank, and thank you, moms. I’m proud to say we participated.” -Kimberly Jarrell
Abundance
“After learning about the need for donor breast milk in central Texas, I was thrilled when, after my baby was born, I had an abundance of milk to share. Every night at midnight, I was thrilled to pump for babies who needed it, and was so glad to have the milk to share. Every person, at some point, needs to know that they have done something to make a difference. And the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Austin was a great way for myself and my little boy to do this together. What a wonderful gift that the MMB of Austin offers babies and families in central Texas.” -Rose CochranIt
We help Because We Can
"It takes a while to stop worrying about whether you'll have enough milk for your baby. When I reached that level of comfort, donating milk felt as natural as greeting someone genuinely, or helping someone carry grocery bags--basic human courtesy without pretense or over-thinking. It is also a way to show my daughter, Zoe, that we help because we can. This is one of her first contributions to humanity." -Maya Cabassi
Power of Milk"I am a mother of two working two jobs, one of which is as a breastfeeding professional. With my first born, I had very little help getting a good latch. I was able to direct nurse for 6 weeks until I switched over to pumping full time. While attempting to direct nurse, I was told by my doctor to pump after every nurse to avoid mastitis. However, this caused a huge oversupply, but because I was pumping, it was a blessing in disguise—I was able to provide my son with my milk for his entire first year, plus some. I switched him over to cows' milk at one year & forgot about all of my deep freeze stash until it was long expired. I cried while I poured it all out and made a pact with myself to do something better with it on the next time around.
When baby #2 came along, I was hoping for a surplus again & got set up to become a milk donor. I never had a problem supplying my son with plenty of my milk and I was able to make several donations to the Austin Milk Bank. I'm so glad that I was able to help other moms & babies with my excess milk supply.
I feel that getting the word out about breastfeeding and the power of breast milk is critical in today's society when health problems are a serious issue & so many people don't associate it with breast milk being our first food/vaccine. It really is liquid gold & more people need to know about its power so that they don't waste it." -Kristine Keller
Loss, Love & Healing: Bereaved Mothers Share Their Stories
Claire’s legacy
“When I gave birth to a full term, lifeless baby boy, my old life ended. A devastating new reality began. One morning shortly after, I sat anguished because my breasts were full; ready to give life to a baby that had lost his, but with no outlet. A few months later a friend told me about breast milk donations for preemies. My heart was heavy pondering how my lost son’s milk might have given life to others. Less than a year later, I gave birth to a little girl, Claire, at 29 weeks. She lived only four hours. I pestered the nurses about milk donation, but they knew little about it. They eventually provided information about Austin’s Milk Bank.
On Claire’s three-month birthday, the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin received two full boxes of milk. What a gift for Claire! Babies would live because of Claire. After Claire died, I focused on pumping and storing priceless 29-week milk so crucial to preemie survival. It was healing both physically and emotionally. Another gift I received after donating milk: my delivery hospital gets its milk from Austin! My wish of giving my milk to Arizona NICU babies came true. We cannot control life and death. But we can use our resources to fight for life. I couldn’t nourish my babies, but am so grateful to nourish others. I hope Claire and I helped in saving their lives. They have played a part in restoring mine.” -Kelly Haught
