Something just fell in to our laps the other day. It was kind of like one of those things that happens and you think, "WOW, I was never expecting
that but SURE,
GREAT,...and THANK YOU!" It was a bonus, a gift, a blessing, whatever you want to call it, but we're super stoked about it. You see, a good friend's cousin just had her baby boy about two weeks ago and she's been producing SO MUCH milk that she had approximately a two months supply of sterilized breast milk in her freezer. She really wanted someone to take advantage of it instead of wasting it and so we jumped on it (the opportunity, not her boobies). She's a military wife, has five (!) kids, and her husband is a surgeon in Afghanistan. We felt very comfortable taking it off her hands since it was our friends' cousin and not a total stranger. And our surrogate who is a full-time nanny and very knowledgeable about these kinds of things said that the advantages totally outweigh the risks so that made us feel confident that it was ok.
Soooooo, at 32 weeks pregnant (today!) we are
rolling in boobie milk and it's a bit
crazy. The nursery is completely done. We have a months supply of breast milk sitting in our freezer (of which about 10 of the bags are full of colostrum), and with more to come. And we still have another 6 or 7 weeks to go until our little girl arrives (and two more baby showers!!)!!
I'd like to say we are over prepared, but I'm sure that will just jinx us...
The super yellow bags are the ones full of colostrum and are from the first week or so of milk production. Note the bag on the bottom right is much more white, which does not contain as much colostrum. Amazing!.
And congratulations to Bernadette and Duane on the arrival of their boy and girl!!! Thinking good thoughts and saying prayers that everything continues to go well, guys.
Hurray for 32 weeks and Breast Milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a great start for your little girl!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a good day!!! Thank you!
DeleteWhat a generous and lovely gift!
ReplyDeleteHealthier, already pumped and you just saved a few hundred dollars of formula too!
I didn't think of it that way, Edward, but yes, it's a nice little savings...!
DeleteThis is absolutely fantastic news! Breastmilk is the best for a baby and even if today's formulas are totally ok, it's still "the original and best". One more month and your treasure may arrive. I know for sure you will be prepared!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anu! We had always planned on formula with some nursing just after birth, but this gives us a way to continue breast milk when we get home.
DeleteWe are so debating "black market" breast milk. I know there are many exchanges we can get it from but we are also wary. Fingers crossed that our amazing surrogate might want to pump but we won't even bring it up. I mean, she's already doing A LOT for us ;)
ReplyDeleteWe got a freezer in the basement here in DC if you need more storage space! Ha!
32 weeks! Yay!
K
Hey guys, our surrogate offered to provide breast milk while we are in DC so we are pretty sure we're gonna take her up on that. You may be surprised how your surro responds...might as well start hinting now :-)
DeleteLOL Happy you didn't jump on her boobies... she probably would have gave you a kickaroo in your goodies.
ReplyDeleteHa ha. I'm glad you thought that was funny. Not sure how that was going to go over...and we definitely didn't want a kick in the goodies.
DeleteThat's wonderful. What a lovely gift given to you and now from you to your baby! THAT is how the world should go round. :) xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, agreed!!! Pay it forward is how I like to look at it life!
DeleteWow that's awesome, like liquid gold for babies!!! Maybe you could get a fake boobie vest like out of the little fockers movie!! LOl! All jokes aside what a wonderful gift.....not long now!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll pass on the vest but yes, liquid gold! Nice to be able to provide breast milk for at least another month than expected. A big score...super happy!
DeleteVery generous! And the use of the word "booby" cracked me up!!
ReplyDeleteBreast for me is a bit funny too. Plus that's what our surrogate calls it so I thought I'd follow suit!
DeleteThat is awesome!!! Since my IP's are international it isn't feasible to ship my milk to them once they go home, but I have volunteered to feed the baby while they are here. I'm going to keep on pumping and try to find a local family to donate to once they are gone. SUCH an important thing to do if there's any way to do it!
ReplyDeleteI know we feel so amazingly LUCKY! Our surro will nurse while we are in DC, too...and then we'll have a lot of milk here when we get back. yay!
DeleteWOW! how lucky are u guys ;) thats great to hear, and thrilled you guys are at 32 weeks...in no time we'll meet ur little girl. Hope plans are coming along enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteEverything is coming along swimmingly...fingers crossed the next several weeks fly by with no complications. So excited for you, too, Mandy!!!
Deletethat's an amazing gift! lucky daddies ... your little girl will benefit esp with all that colostrum mixed in! i'm very happy for you. =)
ReplyDeleteand 32 weeks?! woohoo! that's exciting. i'm assuming your suro is stateside? all the suro patients i've had - the adopting parents were from europe, so arranging to be there for the birth in time unfortunately never happened ... i've got my fingers crossed for you!!
Our surrogate is in DC and we are arriving two and a half weeks prior to due date...so hopefully that's enough time!! Everything's crossed over here. Hope you're doing ok in the hospital...hang in there!
DeleteThat would be awesome! And so glad to know she's finally starting to, hopefully, move into position. I'm definitely keeping things crossed for you both ... that would be such an amazing experience to miss out on. So very excited for you. =)
DeleteThank you for the well wishes too. I'm doing well and everything seems to be checking out, so I'm hoping I'll be home soon.
the moving in to position thing is slow going...apparently she's being a bit stubborn. Good to hear you are doing better! awesome!
DeleteYou guys are really lucky. ..breast milk is so hard to come by. We're going to try the milk banks but sounds like chances are slim.
ReplyDeleteWow 32 weeks is SO close...we prolly wouldn't be able to function out of sheer excitement when we get that close :) Wishing you all the best for the home stretch of this journey!
Thanks guys...you are coming along nicely as well. It's a bit surreal at this point, actually. I don't think I'll feel too much until we are in the delivery room, which is probably good! :-)
Deletehi guys im so happy so happy for you. well i dont know if you know me I got a blog on this thing and I am a single gay male starting the journey, and I cant wait. I leave to india next month and I will then hopefully be a daddy soon after. I will be watching your blog to see the excitement coming your way good luck
ReplyDeleteMichael
Thanks Michael. A HUGE GOOD LUCK TO YOU on your upcoming trip!!!
DeleteJackpot...kaching...what a relief for you guys! Now forward Ho!
ReplyDeletekaching is right. kinda of like finding an old rotten bone on a walk!
Deleteor in the backyard...in every corner...hiding from the guys!
Deletehaha!
DeleteYAY for you guys! I am telling you, our surrogate has been pumping for us from the beginning and it has been a blessing! YAY!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, a HUGE blessing!
ReplyDelete