Donor Milk Can Help Today. Breastfeeding Support Can Help You Move Forward.
If you are looking for donor milk because you are worried that you don’t have enough milk for your baby, you are not alone, and you are not helpless.
Donor milk can be an incredibly valuable resource. There are times when a baby needs additional milk, and having access to screened donor milk can provide important support while parents work toward their feeding goals.
We celebrate that.
But we also want parents to know something that is just as important:
Needing donor milk today does not automatically mean you will need donor milk tomorrow.
Many parents reach out for donor milk because they have been told their milk supply is low, their milk “didn’t come in,” or they simply aren’t making enough for their baby.
Sometimes parents are given this information very early in the postpartum period, before milk production has had the opportunity to fully develop and before anyone has taken the time to understand what is actually happening with feeding, milk removal, baby’s feeding skills, pumping, and the parent’s individual circumstances.
This is where breastfeeding help matters.
If you are currently looking for donor breast milk in Metro Atlanta, start with our Need Donor Milk resource.
Donor Milk + Breastfeeding Support
If your baby needs donor milk, please don’t feel like you have to choose between getting donor milk and getting breastfeeding help.
You can do both.
Donor milk may help meet your baby’s immediate nutritional needs while a lactation professional helps you understand what is happening with your own milk production and creates a plan to support your breastfeeding goals.
The goal isn’t simply to get you through today.
The goal is to help you understand what your body and your baby are doing, and what can be done to support your milk supply and your breastfeeding relationship.
That may include direct breastfeeding, pumping, supplementation, bottle feeding, or a combination of approaches.
If breastfeeding is part of your goal, learn more about our Breastfeeding Support.
If pumping is part of your plan, our Pumping Support can help with flange sizing, pump fit, settings, milk removal, pumping routines, exclusive pumping, and return-to-work planning.
Your Milk Supply May Have More Potential Than You Think
Milk production is a process.
Your supply can be affected by many things, including how often milk is removed, how effectively your baby transfers milk, pumping practices, baby’s oral and feeding skills, birth and postpartum circumstances, and other individual factors.
That means hearing “your milk hasn’t come in” or “you don’t have enough milk” doesn’t have to be the end of the conversation.
It can be the beginning of one.
A thorough breastfeeding consultation can help identify what may be affecting milk production and milk transfer and give you a personalized plan for moving forward.
That may include looking at:
- How often your baby is feeding
- How effectively your baby is transferring milk
- Latch and positioning
- Your pumping routine
- Pump fit and flange sizing
- Milk removal
- Supplementation
- Bottle feeding
- Birth and postpartum history
- Your feeding goals
You don’t have to figure this out by yourself.
You can explore all of our lactation services in Duluth, Gwinnett County, and Metro Atlanta.
Donor Milk Is Measured. Your Breastfeeding Goals Are Personal.
Donor milk is a precious resource, and availability can be limited. It is typically provided in measured quantities and is intended to meet a baby’s immediate needs.
Your own milk supply, however, is something we can evaluate and work with.
When your goal is to provide breast milk for your baby, breastfeeding support can help you work toward building, protecting, increasing, and preserving your milk supply when possible.
Sometimes the answer is direct breastfeeding.
Sometimes it includes pumping.
Sometimes it includes both.
Sometimes your baby needs supplementation while we work on the underlying feeding issue.
There is no shame in needing help. There is no shame in using donor milk. And there is no reason to give up on your breastfeeding goals simply because things aren’t going the way you expected.
How Donor Milk Works in Metro Atlanta
Gwinnett Breastfeeding works with the Metro Atlanta Mother’s Milk Alliance (MAMMA) as a local donor milk resource.
MAMMA is a community milk alliance rather than a traditional milk bank.
Prospective donors go through screening and serological testing. Donated milk is tracked using an anonymized donor number.
Recipient families are not charged for donated milk.
MAMMA does not pasteurize donated milk onsite. Recipient families are responsible for pasteurizing milk they receive at home according to MAMMA’s instructions.
You can learn more about the current process directly through MAMMA.
If you need milk for your baby, visit our Need Donor Milk page for recipient information and next steps.
If you have extra milk to share, visit our Donate Breast Milk page.
What If I Can’t Afford Lactation Help?
Please ask.
Many parents are surprised to learn that lactation consultations may be covered by their health insurance.
Others choose to self-pay because they see breastfeeding support as an investment in the feeding journey they want for themselves and their baby.
We don’t want cost to be the reason you assume help isn’t available.
Ask us about your options.
You can learn more on our Lactation Insurance & Coverage page.
You Deserve More Than “Just Feed the Baby”
Of course, your baby’s immediate nutritional needs matter.
But your breastfeeding goals matter, too.
If you want to breastfeed, provide breast milk, pump, combination feed, or simply understand what is happening with your milk supply, you deserve support that looks at the whole picture.
You deserve someone to listen to your story.
Someone to assess what is happening with you and your baby.
Someone to help you understand your options.
Someone to create a plan with you, not just tell you what to do.
At Gwinnett Breastfeeding, We Are Here to Help You Build Your Feeding Journey.
Whether you are:
- Waiting for your milk to increase
- Worried that you aren’t making enough milk
- Supplementing with donor milk or formula
- Pumping to increase your supply
- Breastfeeding and pumping
- Having difficulty with latch or milk transfer
- Unsure whether your baby is getting enough
- Returning to work and trying to protect your supply
- Recovering from a difficult start
- Or simply wanting someone knowledgeable in your corner
We are here.
Getting donor milk when your baby needs it can be a good and loving decision.
And getting breastfeeding help at the same time may help you better understand what is possible with your own milk supply.
You are not helpless. Your breastfeeding journey is not over because you need supplementation.
Let’s look at what is happening, what your options are, and what we can do to help you reach the feeding goals that matter to your family.
Your breastfeeding journey deserves support.
Gwinnett Breastfeeding is here to help you create it.
Or explore:
Breastfeeding Support
Pumping Support
Need Donor Milk
Donate Breast Milk
All Lactation Services