“Ain't No Hood Like Motherhood”: The Complexity of Human Milk Donor Identity

Abstract

Objective This article draws on the literature of bodily gifting, the motivations for milk donation, and donor identity to explore human milk donation in the context of nonprofit milk banks. We ask: What are the characteristics of the milk donor identity? Methods We qualitatively analyze written testimonials and images produced by human milk donors during the time of their milk donation. Results We found that milk donors comprised complex identities: the identity of a mother, of a woman, sometimes a recipient, and often including the donor's professional identity. Conclusion Given the increasing demand for human milk donations, studying the unique aspects of this donation is important. The complexity of milk donor identity is captured in the fluidity of human milk donation itself, donors and recipients with this bodily gifting include the babies, mothers, and even entire families.

What is known about human milk bank donors around the world: a systematic scoping review

“…The most common donor experience studied was reasons/ enablers for donation (16,(18)(19)(20)(21)24,26,(30)(31)(32)35,37,39,43) . Common reasons for donation included altruism, having excess milk and avoiding waste (16,18,20,30,32,36,37,43) . Common enablers for donation were being encouraged to donate and receiving information about milk banks from healthcare providers (19)(20)(21)24,(30)(31)(32)35,36,39) .…”

“…Major themes: information received about milk banks and perceived approval of family and friends, having excess milk, altruism, empathy, support from family and milk bank USA (18) 2007 87 donors To help others, having excess milk (% not provided) USA (24) 2012 21 donors Major themes: physical and emotional meanings of pumping, finding meaning in perinatal loss, and importance of healthcare providers addressing lactation with bereaved mothers USA (26) 2013 19 donors Major theme: deriving value from the physical and emotional labour of pumping USA (36) 2018 12 donors Major themes: hope of donation helping others, act of donating was nurturing for the donor, importance of support from healthcare staff and desire to share their stories USA (37) 2018 2 donors Major themes: milk donation as a mean of processing perinatal loss and doing something helpful with their milk USA (43) 2020 95 donor testimonials…”

“…The most common donor experience studied was reasons/ enablers for donation (16,(18)(19)(20)(21)24,26,(30)(31)(32)35,37,39,43) . Common reasons for donation included altruism, having excess milk and avoiding waste (16,18,20,30,32,36,37,43) .…”

“…Major themes: lack of healthcare provider knowledge, distance from milk bank, no support at work and decrease of milk production USA (18) 2007 87 donors Finding time to pump, transporting milk to the bank and problems getting blood test (% not provided) USA (37) 2018 2 donors Major theme: frequent pumping was difficult Donor identity USA (24) 2012 21 donors Major themes: identifying as a bereaved mother/grieving the loss of motherhood USA (40) 2019 80 donors Major themes: a temporal donor identity allowed bereaved mothers opportunity to process loss and reconstruct maternal/female identity USA (43) 2020 95 donor testimonials Major themes: donors had complex and fluid identity including being a woman, a mother, healthcare professional and prior recipient of milk donation…”

Why Is Human Milk Donation Absent From the Literature on Philanthropic Giving? The Invisible Female Donor and Her Invisible Gift

“…Donors who engage in bodily gifting often hold identities of helpers, altruists, or generous givers (e.g., Piliavin & Callero, 1991). Studies on milk donation have found that milk donor identity is complex, comprised maternal and female identities (Gribble, 2014; Oreg & Appe, 2020; Palmquist & Doehler, 2014) and at times is influenced by a distinct professional identity of a health care provider (e.g., nurse, physician; Oreg & Appe, 2020).…”