Thursday, January 28, 2010

It will not go to waste after all!

Yesterday I received a call from the milk bank in Indianapolis. I am so excited to report that I will be donating my milk to them! They are building up a stock to send to Haiti and I will be able to help feed some of the little hungry babies there. After an initial phone screening, they emailed me all the forms to fill out and mail back. I have to go to my doctor and to the munchkin's doc to have them sign off on some health papers. They are also sending me a blood kit that I have to take to my doctor to have him draw blood and send back to the milk bank. Then they will send me some UPS freezer boxes to ship the milk to them. They pay for and take care of everything. I have an appointment set up with my doctor on Monday to have them sign my papers and draw my blood. I am going by the pediatrician's office today to have them sign off on her. If all goes well, I should be sending my first batch of milk off next week! I will probably have enough more to send another batch by the time I am completely done pumping. It's going to take a while to get these puppies to stop producing milk!

I can not describe the relief I feel not having to just throw away all of my milk, and instead being able to use it towards a very good cause.

In other news... the munchkin has discovered her love for eating! I can't believe how much she loves this new formula! She is eating a 4 oz bottle almost every two hours. Every now and then she will stop at 2 oz, but she usually finishes most of the bottle every time. And she will yell for it and let me know she is hungry and as soon as I stick that bottle in her mouth, she is just as happy as can be. I guess she is making up for lost time. She is going through diapers like crazy! I have never seen her like this... it is so amazing to see her enjoying eating instead of being miserable from it.

She has also been in such a good mood. Don't get me wrong, she has still been a crabby baby here and there, but it's a different kind of crabby. It's normal baby crabby... not "I am in pain, somebody help me!".... I will take the new crabby any day. She is smiling way more, laughing and playing more and just all around being more content.

I am crossing my fingers and hoping this is what she needs and things continue to get better. I have thought things were better each time we switched to a new medicine only to find out a couple of weeks later that it wasn't. But this is the best she has ever been. And she has never eaten so much! A big appetite always seems like a really good sign to me.

10 comments:

Jillian said...

I am so happy that you found someone to take your milk!! I can't believe how much you have!! And I am happy she is eating, I am sure it has been hard!

LWLH said...

What a great way to help Haiti...and she is such a doll, that smile is precious! :)

Gina said...

I love that new picture of the munchkin. I need to come see her. I still can't believe what a Joe Mini-Me she is. And I love the idea of shipping your milk to Haiti. Those babies need it so badly.
P.S. Once she starts trying to sit up on her own, take her bumbo away. I learned that from a Developmental Therapist that I worked with in First Steps! :) Just FYI!

Little T said...

Yay! I am so happy to hear that. I know it makes giving up breastfeeding so much easier for you! I am impressed with the photo! We do good work:-) She thinks crazy Aunt Toni is hilarious!

Anna said...

That's awesome! Are you still going to wait a couple of weeks to be sure with the formula or just donate it all now?
That smile is so stinkin' precious! BBZ kept saying "baby, baby" when we got home...I think he liked hanging out with her!

Laura said...

I think I am going to just go ahead and donate it... it's going to take a few weeks to get my supply down anyway... by then I could always build it back up if I wanted to return to breastfeeding. I have way more then I would ever need anyway and this way it will go to something very important.

Trena said...

Laura-

I just responded to your comment on my blog but wanted to say again how awesome it is that you are able to donate. And I am so happy to hear your daughter is thriving, and a happy baby again. That's what it all comes down to!
Best of luck!

Susannah said...

Yay! What a great act of kindness! And her photo is adorable! She looks so snuggly and precious!
xoxo

ilikebeerandbabies.com said...

Hi Laura, I am a new mom who found your blog and read it because I am a friend of Brooke's. I love reading it. Donating your milk is a great idea. BIG NOTE: be sure to get a donation receipt for how many ounces you donate so you can write it off on your taxes next year. Breast milk goes for as much as $2 per ounce so that is a BIG tax write off.

prashant said...

I love the idea of shipping your milk to Haiti. Those babies need it so badly.

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