Candice - doctor in a neonatal ICU & breastmilk donor - Mowbray
"I am a donor and recently met a mother whose twins received donor milk as they were born @ 32 weeks. She thanked me and said it was people like us that saved her babies' lives. It really hit home then!"
Hannelie, donor mom - Eversdal
"It is such a great priviledge and pleasure to be able to give what I can give. It is truly an honour."
Jaclyn, breastmilk donor - Kuils River
"I am so happy to be a part of the Milk Matters project, after having surrogated twins a few months ago. I expressed milk for the twins after their birth, while I was in hospital, and continued donating to Milk Matters when I got home."
Natalie (breastmilk donor and surrogate mother) - Kraaifontein
When can I stop feeding my baby at night?
There is no denying, having a baby is tiring. Sleep depravation is no fun. The advice often given is; "Give your baby extra milk with the evening feed" or "Express so that Daddy can give that as the 2am feed" All well meaning but not always conducive to successful breastfeeding.
Once your baby is 6 weeks or older, you could consider dad giving expressed breastmilk to your baby, for one night feed, once or twice a week.
It would be even better to follow your babies hunger cues and "cluster" feed him in the evenings if that is what he is asking for. He is then far more likely to have a longer sleep during the night. Trying to enforce fewer night feeds could lead to milk reduction, due to the long intervals between feeds.
It could be helpful to have your young baby sleep in your room, even in your bed. Consider the pros and cons. Alternatively Dad could bring baby to you for feeds and or take him back and change his nappy after one or more of the night feeds.
Most babies will require fewer night feeds round 12 weeks, some much sooner. Babies grow all too quickly, don't wish this precious time away.