A woman in the US state of Texas, Alyse Ogletree has set the record for the largest donation of breastmilk by an individual by donating over 2,600 liters of breastmilk.
She made all her donations to ‘Mothers’ Milk Bank in North Texas’, a total measuring 2,645.58 liters as of July 2023. She has also donated beyond this record but it was not counted. She said her favorite thing about this is knowing that she is helping other people.
The 36-year-old previously broke the same record in 2014 after donating 1,569.79 liters of breastmilk.
“I have a big heart,” she told the Guinness World Records. “At the end of the day, I’m not made of money and I can’t give away money to good causes over and over because I have a family I have to support for.”
Alyse found out she was overproducing and throwing it away after she gave birth to her first son Kyle, now 14. She started donating breast milk in 2010 after she learnt about it from a nurse.
“Our first child, Kyle, was in the hospital, and I was filling the nurses’ freezer. A nurse asked if I was donating, which I didn’t know was possible, and that is when I learned about it.”
Alyse has two more children, Kage, 12, and Kory, seven. Additionally, she has been a surrogate for another.
She broke the record for the first time when she submitted her application after donating when she had her daughter Kage. She continued donating following the birth of her youngest and when she became a surrogate mother. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” she said.
Alyse wishes to make other women aware of donating breast milk as they may be able to help other mothers and their babies. She has never been diagnosed with any condition to explain her over-producing; however, she explained she was well-hydrated, had a healthy diet and maintained a consistent pumping schedule.
“Alyse Ogletree has astounded and inspired us once again through her remarkable commitment to donate an incomprehensible amount of surplus breastmilk to fragile infants. Her life-saving efforts are an undeniable testament to her extraordinary generosity and compassion,” said the executive director of Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas.
Located in southwest Fort Worth near Benbrook, “Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas (MMBNT)” is a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to provide pasteurized donor human milk to fragile infants when their own mothers’ milk is not available.
In 2020, it was estimated that there were 756 milk banks in 66 countries, with an increasing number of milk banks being established in low and middle-income countries.
How many mothers breastfeed in the world?
Globally rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life have increased by 10 percentage points over the past decade and are at 48% for 2023, close to the World Health Assembly target of 50% by 2025.
Human milk banks around the world are in Africa, Brazil and Latin America, Europe, North America, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, India.
More than 13,500 generous breastmilk donors have donated more than 7.8 million ounces of donated breastmilk to get dispensed to the babies who need it the most.
Breastfeeding is essential for child survival and health. Breast milk is a safe, natural, nutritious, and sustainable food for babies. Breast milk contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and respiratory diseases. It is estimated that inadequate breastfeeding is responsible for 16% of child deaths each year. Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests and are less likely to be overweight or obese later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of cancer and type II diabetes.
However, sale-of-breast-milk for profits always raises-eyebrows. Donate breastmilk only to save a life.
Undoubtedly, breastfeeding is the best feeding. No child should be deprived of the benefits of human milk. It is the first immunization for a baby and it provides optimal nutrition. It is also beneficial for mothers as it improves bonding with the baby, helps reduce weight, reduces chances of breast cancer.
For babies who are unable to receive mother’s milk due to unavoidable reasons, such as baby too weak to nurse or suckle, the mother’s illness, death, abandonment, or delay in milk production, in such cases, donor milk can be lifesaving. By helping mothers breastfeed, any best NGO can make sure that mothers breastfeed their babies even after discharge from the hospital. Mothers may only donate excess milk to genuine sources after feeding their babies.
Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
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