Why This Mama’s Photo of 295 Ounces Of Pumped Breast Milk Has Gone Viral

Mother-of-two used an Instagram post this week to spread the word about donating breastmilk. Ashley Clifford took this gorgeous snap of her five-month-old baby surrounded by a love heart shape made with 295 ounces of donor breast milk bags. She explains: "When I found out I was pregnant with this baby, my DREAM was to not only be able to breastfeed her, but to be able to donate milk as well." “This picture represents many sleepless nights, especially from the first couple weeks, 295 ounces of extra milk, five blocked ducts, and a 17.5 lb healthy, growing baby girl.”

This photo means so much to me. When I found out I was pregnant with this baby, my DREAM was to not only be able to breastfeed her, but to be able to donate milk as well. Let me be clear about one thing though, I believe FED is best. I tried to nurse David, but after a month of him barely gaining anything, I started supplementing an eventually went straight to formula with him. And he's thriving! This picture represents many sleepless nights, especially from the first couple weeks, 295 ounces of extra milk, five blocked ducts, and a 17.5 lb healthy, growing baby girl. Today I'm donating about 200 ounces for the first time and the feeling I'm having is hard to explain. It's a mix of excitement and love but at the same time, I'm having some reservations, only because nursing and pumping is HARD! I feel kind of protective of this haha BUT that isn't going to stop me from giving some of this away?

A photo posted by Ashley Clifford (@ashleymclifford) on Jan 30, 2017 at 9:11am PST

She told Huffington Post that she joined breastfeeding groups on Facebook who are looking for donor milk and was struck by how much of an impact someone can make to a struggling mother and her baby. "Today I'm donating about 200 ounces for the first time, and the feeling I'm having is hard to explain. It's a mix of excitement and love but at the same time, I'm having some reservations, only because nursing and pumping is HARD! I feel kind of protective of this haha BUT that isn't going to stop me from giving some of this away?" If you had enough supply, is this something you would do? If so, get in touch with this incredible group, Human Milk 4 Human Babies or Human Milk Bank on Facebook. If this is something YOU have already done, we'd love to hear your story, get in touch with us.