Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/603414
32 Hudson Valley Parent ■ December 2015 D o you remember when you fi rst gave birth? That beauti- ful bundle of joy, completely dependent on you to survive in the world. I was extraordinarily happy. I was also terrifi ed. I thought, 'I am fully responsible for this human being. I am the one who has to feed her, clothe her, shelter her, and keep her safe. If I make a mistake, the consequences could be disastrous.' It was enthrall- ing, wonderful, and scary all at the same time. Now imagine not be- ing able to nourish your newborn. Watching them get frustrated at feeding time, knowing that they are always hungry. This is a reality for many women who try to breastfeed and cannot. Breastfeeding can be a wonderful bonding experience between a moth- er and baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that, "breastfeed- ing and human milk are the norma- tive standards for infant feeding and nutrition. Given the documented short and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding, infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice." Sometimes that's easier said than done. If you try to breastfeed and your child is crying and losing weight, breastfeeding can become a night- mare. Many turn to formula when breastfeeding does not work. But there are some who are sharing breast- milk with those who cannot produce enough milk for their own child, with those who are undergoing medical treatments and cannot breastfeed, and for those who adopt or foster a child. Making the decision to accept donated breast milk Maybe the idea of accepting do- nated breast milk raises a red fl ag or two for you. Use a stranger's milk for my baby? How do I know the donor isn't sick or a drug user? Bekki Hill, a certifi ed lactation counselor from Red Hook, suffered from a chron- ic low milk supply when she was breastfeeding. She experienced all of the frustrations of not being able to produce enough milk for her chil- dren and turned to donor milk. "The fi rst time we took milk from a stranger, I laid up in bed awake all night," she recalls. "Even though the donor was a doctor in New York City and she gave me all the proof in the world that she was healthy!" It can be scary to take a stranger's milk. There are milk banks that screen, pasteurize, and process milk, but that can be expensive and most of the time that milk is reserved for preemies who are at risk. Hill reveals that you can share breastmilk without the cost. Web- Milk Sharing – Is It Safe? What to watch out for when using donated breast milk "The rst time we took milk from a stranger, I laid up in bed awake all night" - Bekki Hill, mom and lactation consultant By KELLY AURIEMMO