Jump to content

Breast Milk Donation for Kings Milk Bank - Worth Considering

The Nappy Lady
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 4 months later...
Yak

Yak

Posted
Posted
Just wanted to bump this post to encourage people to donate to Kings Milk Bank if they can. I phoned on Wed night to give my details and book the blood test; by Thursday morning a whole load of expressing bottles and information leaflets had arrived by first class post. There is a bit of a backlog for appts but if you are keen to stockpile ahead of the test, they will send the bottles out to you. Just phone the number given above - couldn't be simpler.
  • 4 weeks later...
Yak

Yak

Posted
Posted
Another shameless bump for this thread (although FRM please look kindly on it, given that it's breastfeeding awareness week!). Kings are down to only 10 donors at present from a high of about 65 a couple of years ago. So if you are fortunate enough to have a surplus of milk, please please do consider donating. Some of the babies in the SCBU I saw this morning were so unbelievably tiny and vulnerable, it almost broke my heart.
ClareC

ClareC

Posted
Posted

I'm happy to do it but does anyone know how long the appointments take for the blood tests? Are they done at Kings?


I don't relish the idea of dragging a baby and toddler on the bus to sit in a windowless toy less waiting room for hours as was my experience of all my antenatal appointments :-(

cazbee

cazbee

Posted
Posted

Regarding the bloodtests, they are done by the milk bank team themselves and you will be given a specific time slot on level 4 at Kings (opposite the MAU). It didn't take long at all and one of the milk bank volunteers was even on hand to give my little one a cuddle while they took the blood. The whole thing took about 20mins and I was able to feed bubs in an empty room next door afterwards.


I wish I had started earlier as my baby was just over 4 months when I enrolled and then immediately had a growth spurt and I found I had a lot less surplus milk.

Fuschia

Fuschia

Posted
Posted

I donated until I went back to work

But I will up my expressing and freeze some extra for the bank if they really are so short


Those who are worried about the practicalities, might be worth calling to see if they can tSke your blood at home


It is such a worthwhile thing to do

Even an ounce is enough tO benefit the tiny babies who might take just 5ml at a time


It's really hard for many mothers of Prem babies to establish and maintain their supply ESP if they don't live near to kings and have to travel into London just to see their baby

anna_r

anna_r

Posted
Posted

I rang them a while ago as I express at work and my daughter doesn't even end up drinking it as she refuses all other methods of drinking other than breast (all bottles, cup, spoon, syringe) however since my baby at the time was older than 6 months they wouldnt take it so I end up throwing it away :( such a waste. I pump to keep up supply as i work part time and feed her more frequently on days i dont work and know that my supply dropped rapidly when dropping feeds for number 1.


I pleaded with them but they said the composition is too different to the needs of a newborn. I wish I had done it earlier on, although then I was struggling with the Tongue tie issue for a long time and didn't feel I had any to spare...if we ever go for a third I will definitely do it early on!

Yak

Yak

Posted
Posted
ClareC, they were so prompt they sent out a search party on the 4th floor to find me as I had forgotten where to go and was 5 mins late! I was done and dusted in 10 minutes. And they phoned to check a few days before the appt that it was still convenient for me. Hopefully you will have a similarly smooth experience.
ClareC

ClareC

Posted
Posted

I hope so..... I will mention to them the problem, baby is easy but toddler does not take kindly to being stuck in a buggy stationary! Scans for number 2 were a nightmare, my partner generally didn't get to see much of the scan since the 4 hour waits meant one extremely fed up toddler and two very stressed out parents!


Fingers crossed I can organise an appointment when my daughter is at nursery! I've only recently had baby 2 by c section, shame they can't use the blood results from then, although I realise this wouldn't be possible.

Fuschia

Fuschia

Posted
Posted
Right, I am off to express and start donating again. I got onto their list a while back, they did say they would still accept from me post 6m. I did donate quite a lot in Jan and feb when littlest baby finally dwitched from ebm to actual bf
The Nappy Lady

The Nappy Lady

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi Clare,


When I was a donor the actual milk bank team, or Claire Kevdis (can't recall) took the blood & it was pretty efficient. Maybe phone & ask - they are very welcoming.


Will depend how old your youngest child is too.


Can't believe they are down to ten donors - please, please help if you can ladies.

  • 5 months later...
Lue Lue

Lue Lue

Posted
Posted

I know this is an old thread by now, but just wanted to say I'm so grateful for Kings milk donors!


My daughter was born 7 weeks prematurely and had donors milk during her first weeks in life until I managed establishing breastfeeding. She's now a strong healthy little girl!


THANK YOU! :)

  • 4 weeks later...
Fuschia

Fuschia

Posted
Posted

Just bumping this thread, reminded because I got a christmas card and a badge today from the milk bank.


If you have a young baby please think about donating - all it involves is a visit to kings for blood tests - after that they supply the bottles and collect the milk from you.


Even small quantities are valuable - a very Prem bSby may only take 5ml per feed. Donor Breast milk really improves outcomes for these babies.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Advertise Here

  • Latest Discussions

    • LondonFermentation
      Looking to buy or adopt a dog

      By LondonFermentation · Posted

      I have a rescue Spanish greyhound (galgo) from the charity mentioned above. You can contact Greyhounds in Need or one of the more local Kent greyhound rescue charities. They are fantastic family dogs. They do love walkies 2 or 3 times a day but they actually don't need to be walked too far and then they will happily loaf around on the sofa being very chill. They are brilliant with kids but not recommended if you own a cat as they have a strong prey drive. They also should be kept on the lead in local parks. They prefer to be around other sight-hounds (well my one does) and there are loads of local sighthound owners in Peckham, Crystal Palace etc and a very lively WhatsApp group that is brilliant if you need dog sitting as you can usually find someone to do that for free in return for you looking after the dog at a later date etc.
    • ak0910
      Rude Evri delivery in SE22

      By ak0910 · Posted

      @Jenijenjen I assure you we are always polite and friendly too! Which is why the behaviour we have been receiving is so frustrating. The kids always leave her with a “Thank you have a lovely day”  Our concern is leaving the gate slightly wedged doesn’t stop the action of slamming it open and closed…still leading to damage  
    • Jenijenjen
      Rude Evri delivery in SE22

      By Jenijenjen · Posted

      If you're talking about who I think you are, I find them more exuberant than rude and usually smiling and polite. But then, I'm usually smiling and polite to them. Can you not wedge open your gate when you're expecting them?
    • Dulwich dweller
      Cllr Williams to stand down

      By Dulwich dweller · Posted

      It worked. Corbyn did similar although not to the same degree. Momentum had a purge too when Corbyn got in. All his political life he opposed the EU but when it came to the crunch he publicly backed them during the referendum. I believe that was to appease the middle classes that he was appealing to. He messed up big time when wooing the middle classes at Glastonbury whilst ignoring his core working class voters up north. They also happened to be leave voters. He got starstruck and forgot about his politics. Corbynmania was thing, a movement but it was also the making of his downfall. For the many and not the few came back and slapped him right in the face. 

East Dulwich Forum

Established in 2006, we are an online community discussion forum for people who live, work in and visit SE22.

Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...