Ep. 340: Connecting Communities Through Donor Milk with Kelly Cox of Share the Drop

In this episode of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe chats about the  benefits and logistics of donor milk with Kelly Cox, founder of Share the Drop, an innovative app connecting donors to recipients. Kelly discusses the need for and benefits of donor milk, particularly for those facing various breastfeeding challenges and the stringent criteria of formal milk banks. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community support and informed decision-making in ensuring the health and wellbeing of infants. They also touch on safety measures, the history and evolution of milk donation, and the cultural and health implications of lactation support. This episode serves as both an informational resource and a testament to the power of community-driven support systems in maternal and infant health. 01:01 The Benefits and Challenges of Breastfeeding 02:03 Introducing Donor Milk 02:13 Challenges in Donating Breast Milk 03:33 Meet Kelly Cox and Share the Drop 07:44 Kelly's Journey to Founding Share the Drop 21:00 The Importance of Community Support 23:02 Ensuring Safety in Donor Milk Sharing 29:05 How to Use the Share the Drop App 29:42 Creating and Managing Your Profile 30:07 Subscription Fees and Waivers 30:25 Traveling and App Activity 31:53 Mother's Day Gift Ideas 33:53 Legal and Liability Concerns 34:59 Importance of Feeding Plans 38:27 Community Support and Resources 39:57 Healthcare Providers' Perspectives 49:23 Historical and Cultural Context of Wet Nursing 54:40 Conclusion and Contact Information   Guest Bio: Kelly Cox is a registered prenatal yoga teacher, a birth doula, former mental health therapist, and breast cancer survivor; all of which led her to understand the stress and anxiety felt when caregivers are unable to produce enough, or any, breast milk.   Brought to you by: Cozy Earth, Use code HEHE at checkout to save 40% off your purchase!  Cozy Earth has the softest, coziest pajamas on earth! I love their bedding, pajamas (I have three pair), socks, towels, and loungewear! I am a die-hard Cozy Earth fan and will absolutely be packing my CE pajamas in my birth bag and living in them during postpartum! Try their Bamboo sheets risk free with their 100 night trial! Use code HEHE at checkout to save 40% off your purchase!    INSTAGRAM: Connect with HeHe on IG  Connect with HeHe on YouTube   Connect with Share the Drop on IG    BIRTH EDUCATION: Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!   Download The Birth Lounge App for birth & postpartum prep delivered straight to your phone! LINKS MENTIONED: www.sharethedrop.com   Human Milk Banking Association of North America:  https://www.hmbana.org Last chance to apply for the Business Accelerator for Doulas!