"I express and freeze my milk for donation as there is no better feeling than knowing we are helping other moms and babies."
Andrea (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
"I never knew the babies I donated to, but I am very happy in the knowledge that my body was able to provide for sickly newborns whose mothers were unable to breastfeed."
Nwabisa (breastmilk donor) - Pinelands
"Having had a baby almost 8 weeks early myself, it meant a lot to help other prem babies, without milk from their moms, by donating milk to Milk Matters, a very special organisation that is very close to my heart."
Michelle S. (breastmilk donor) - Greenpoint
"I wanted to donate milk as I work in a hospital with a neonatal ICU and have hands on expereince with prem babies. I have seen how expressed breastmilk really makes a difference to them. I was only too thrilled to be able to make that difference to other babies."
Chloe - Wynberg (breastmilk donor)
Do the size and shape of my nipples or breasts influence breastfeeding?
Regardless of the size of breasts, big or small, they can all produce the amount of milk required. This is provided off course that the ground rules are followed. Make doubly sure that your baby is correctly latched. (See FAQ and TIPS page on latch and positioning) Sore nipples are not the only indicator of a poor latch. A crying demanding baby, a baby with poor weight gain or a baby who is always difficult to rouse, can also be indicators of a poor latch.
Breastfeed as often as your baby wants to, avoid giving him the tea, water or juice and you will be assured of a good milk supply. Medical conditions that affect milk supply do exist but are extremely rare.
In the past much attention has been paid to nipple size and shape. The key answer to this is that babies do not nipple feed, they breastfeed. Meaning, the nipple is the vessel through which the milk flows and the breast is what the baby latches on to. Early successful latching is more about the baby's initial ability than the shape or size of the mother's nipple.
In rare instances nipple shields could be useful, but are most often used unnecessarily.