The mum donating her breast milk to 20 babies
AMOTHER has become a breast milk donor to dozens of families across the UK after providing enough milk to fill three freezers.
Harriet Tutton, 28, from Barry, has spoken about her decision to help countless parents after storing excess milk for her daughter, Luna.
The mother of one had originally started expressing her milk when Luna, now 23 months, struggled to latch as a newborn.
After filling her own freezer unit Harriet went on to store the milk in her mother’s and partner’s mother’s freezers before taking to social media to find a solution.
She said: “I joined a Facebook page called ‘Human milk 4 human babies’ and it’s an amazing informal milksharing page.
“I had never heard of it before but when my freezer got full I posted online.”
Since becoming a donor Harriet has donated to around 20 families from across the UK.
She said: “I’ve had people drive for five hours to collect from me, there’s such a huge demand.
“One mother had a premature baby and she used my milk as a fortifier. There’s so much you can do with it.
She added: “It’s just a feeling you can’t beat and people really appreciate it. I’ve had boxes of chocolates and thank-you cards.
“You get pictures of the children growing up and it’s nice knowing you contributed to their life.”
With no milk banks in Wales, hospitals must rely on specialist couriers to deliver breast milk from centres in Chester and Birmingham.
But Ms Tutton said there have been mixed reactions to her decision to become a donor.
She said: “I’ve only shared it with friends really as there is quite a lot of negative words about informal breast milk sharing.
“Some people don’t agree with it but the people I’ve spoken to can’t believe their eyes and they are so grateful.
“If any mothers want to feed their baby through breast milk they should be allowed.”
For Ms Tutton, her decision has also led to a life-long friend after donating to mother of three Kay Elliot, from Cardiff Bay.
The pair originally met through a breastfeeding support group after Kay suffered “horrendous” pain when breastfeeding her son, Ollie.
Kay, 32, said: “My supply plummeted and Harriet had this amazing oversupply to feed all the babies in the Vale of Glamorgan so she asked if I wanted some to take the pressure off.
“I had breastfed my other sons so not to breastfeed wasn’t an option for me. Anyone who knows me will tell you it’s one thing I’m passionate about and fits in with my parenting ethos.”
Harriet and Kay now meet regularly for play dates with their two children.
Harriet added: “Obviously we know the majority of women are screened throughout pregnancy so breast milk sharing wasn’t an issue for me.
“It’s lovely knowing Harriet has provided sustenance for my son and he adores her and Luna.”