She said she had never thought about donating milk. I never knew anyone who had donated milk before. Fink isn't shy about sharing intimate moments with her online audience. That includes when her son, Milo, was born in November. She shared everything from the delivery process to her postpartum life. Fink admitted that pumping breast milk was a big mystery to her when it came to feeding Milo.
She said people don't tend to share a lot of the things that are happening behind the scenes about pumping.
Fink shared her journey by recording a series of Pump with Me videos.
I had never seen that before, and it was something I had never seen before. My audience found it fascinating. Fink said the excess milk began to pile up in her freezer. My body was producing more milk than my son is drinking in a day, she said. Fink's followers encouraged her to not waste milk and donate it instead. She didn't realize she could donate breast milk at the time. She started the process by Googling, How to donate breast milk. She went through a phone screening, online application and blood test after finding the New York Milk Bank. Fink needed to give permission for the milk bank to access Milo's medical records. With formula in short supply, moms are pumping breast milk to help others. Fink started donating her excess milk before the formula shortage, she says, with the current situation, it's needed more than ever. She said that it is important to recognize that milk sitting in your freezer is better served being given to a child who is in need right now, especially those really young babies in the NICU that are compromised because of their size and age. Fink hopes that sharing this part of her journey inspires others to do the same, because of the overwhelmingly positive and powerful response to her donations. The process was simple and easy to do because it does sound intimidating. She has a message for mothers struggling to feed their young children right now. If you are affected by the formula shortage, there are people and ways to connect with them who have an answer to your problem.