Once you’re part of the milk bank family, you’re always part of the milk bank family. As we do this work, we often think about the babies and families we’ve had the privilege of knowing and wonder where life has taken them since their time with us. With 2026 marking 20 years of Milky HQ, we’re feeling a little nostalgic—and curious—so we decided to ask a few families to share what life after donor milk looks like. First up: Madison (sorry, Maddie!) and Henry.
Life after donor milk . . .
“My name is MADISON,” an almost four-year-old Madison (formerly known as Maddie!), will tell you with all the sass and emphasis that toddlers do best. Three years ago, Madison and her twin brother, Henry, were born by C-section after doctors realized that Madison’s weight was tracking much too low compared to her twin brother.
Madison was only three lbs. when she was born. And while Henry weighed seven lbs. at birth, both babies needed care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). And that was when mom Katie and her husband first learned about donor milk.
“I felt this shock wave of utter relief when the nurses offered our twins donor milk. How amazing it was that this support is there, how incredible both for our babies but also for me. It felt like a little pressure was taken off. I could get some help for a day or two while I recovered and got my milk supply up. And my babies would still get everything they needed.”
Nobody’s idea of easy . . .
Katie has plowed through a lot of parenting days in the three years since their NICU time. But she remembers those days vividly. She remembers how compassionate the care team was and how grateful she felt. “NICU nurses are something extra special. Yes, they are caring for the babies, but really they are caring for the whole family. Ours were the best of the best.” Katie’s advice to families in the NICU today? “Lean into those nurses. They are an amazing support. Also, take things moment by moment, day by day. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself.”
Parenting three-year-old twins is nobody’s idea of easy, but Katie has had enough time and distance from those scary early post-birth days to feel a lot of gratitude. Tiny Madison’s first big job was to grow. She needed to hit the four lb. mark in order to be released from the NICU and come home to join her brother and her parents. “Donor milk was such a gift. We wanted Maddie to grow as fast as possible. Donor milk helped with that. All those moms who donated, they helped with that.”
220 gallons of milk later . . .
Katie knew early on that she was going to work hard to become one of those moms who gave, literally, of themselves. She wanted to give back. To make sure that every baby gets milk if they need it. In all, Katie estimates that she pumped 220 gallons of milk that nourished her twins and so many other babies. She donated about 4,000 ounces. She spent the equivalent of 56 days pumping and nursing.
“I wanted to do my part. I would donate again and again, if I could.”
This is what we mean by superstar.
Katie’s milk donation days are behind her. Henry is now a busy three-year-old little guy. He can completely recite his favorite book, The Little Blue Truck. He loves to play dress-up and sing songs. Madison loves puzzles, and the little girl who started off so small is now one inch taller and one pound heavier than her twin brother. Both kiddos are healthy, happy, and meeting all their milestones. Woot!
Elevating voices . . .
Katie tells me that while she may be past her milk donation days, she’s not past feeling grateful for the milk she received and the privilege she experienced in being able to donate. “I love all your stories and pictures. I love what you do, elevating voices and experiences so that people understand why this is important, how this milk helps babies. This is moms supporting moms. It’s a community of people who all understand. I’m glad to stay part of that community.”
I tell Katie that Henry and Maddie (ahem, I mean Madison) have been part of our milk bank story. The beautiful picture we have of them as newborns has been framed on our wall for years now, and it’s a regular stop when I’m showing people around the milk bank and telling them about the little people who need our work to happen. So how incredible to get a peek into the next chapter of their lives—a window into how those once tiny babies have grown. It’s a reminder of what really matters and why we’re all here. A reminder to be grateful for the little ones who have a chance to grow and become exactly who they are meant to be.
Tell us about your life after donor milk . . .
If your family is part of the milk bank community—as a donor, a recipient, or both—we’d love to hear from you. Tell us what life after donor milk looks like now, whether your little one is taking their first steps or heading off to high school. Your story might be just the one someone else needs to read.
