The loss of a baby is a terrible time for mothers, fathers and other family members. Amid their grief and pain, some mothers are surprised to find that even though their babies are gone, they still produce milk.
Our team can help mothers through this process. Some mothers find that sharing their milk with babies in need helps them feel connected to the baby they lost. Please know that we at UAMS Milk Bank are here to help.
Every family who donates their milk after a loss will have the option of honoring their loss through placing a leaf on our memorial tree. We will also have a leaf made for you to keep at home. When the leaves are ready, we will contact you to find out if you wish to have a small gathering to find a place on the tree for your leaf. You will have the opportunity to share memories of your baby and if you want, you can bring us a memory page for our book. The “My Love Lives On” memorial was made possible by a family like yours who lost their baby too soon.
Every drop of milk sent to us via the bereavement support program will be used to help us make safe and healthy milk for other babies. To use donated milk to make feedings for babies, we do have to ask some health- related questions and get a blood draw. Other uses for donor milk include testing to make sure that our milk bank procedures are keeping the milk we send to hospitals as safe as possible. Finally, some milk is used for research so we can understand the differences in mother’s milk and how to do our work better and safer. Whether you can donate a little or a lot, we are here to help.
Your love lives on through your gift of milk to help another baby survive and thrive. We thank you for your gift.
A Mother’s Legacy: Donating in Memory
The following is an excerpt taken from one bereaved mother’s message to the milk bank.
“My sweet baby, M* passed away at 9 days old unexpectedly. It was hard to donate this {milk}. But I know she would want to help another baby, so if it helps even one baby, it will be worth it.” – Mom of M*, 2024
A mother, in the depths of her grief, decides to donate the last remaining piece of her baby’s legacy—her breast milk. By sharing it with another mother in need, she helps nourish a baby who might otherwise struggle. While the pain of loss remains, her decision to give life to another child brings some sense of healing, knowing her baby’s memory will live on in the lives saved through her generosity. If the UAMS Milk Bank can help you through such an emotionally turbulent time we hope you will reach out.