"It has felt good to donate milk and be able to give something to babies who are not so lucky and are not blessed with a mother who can breastfeed them."
Debbie S. (breastmilk donor) - Plumstead
"It cost me nothing and took just a bit of my time. More importantly, I was saving a life, a little baby's life."
Helen P (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
"It made me feel proud to know that my milk would go to a very deserving child. Having a baby is a miracle and if I could help just one child it would be an honour."
Andrea (breastmilk donor) - Diep River
"Being a Milk Donor was something that had never crossed my mind pre motherhood.
I learned that my excess milk could save premature babies lives. Babies not as fortunate as mine could have an abundant supply of breast milk.
I just thought: what a blessing, what an opportunity. I could help save a life."
Terri (breastmilk donor) Green Point
Should my breastfed baby be cup fed when i leave her at home?
Yes, it certainly is recommended that your baby is fed by cup rather than with a bottle and teat, when you are not present. This would be relevant whether your baby is getting expressed breastmilk or formula in the cup.
The reason for the recommendation is that feeding with a teat can cause 'nipple confusion'. Some young babies may have nipple confusion where as older babies probably learn very quickly that the milk flow from a teat is instantaneous and that she does not have to wait for her mother's let-down reflex when drinking form a teat.
Teats and dummies must be avoided in particular when babies have difficulty in latching. The sucking action on a dummy or teat is very different from suckling at the breast.
Should you prefer to teat-feed your breastfed baby, when for instance going back to work, it would be preferable that someone other than yourself does it. Some babies then learn to associate their mothers with breastfeeding and accept teat-feeding from others.