A Texas woman recently made headlines by breaking the record for her incredible donation of breast milk to needy babies in the world—she set the Guinness World Record. Alyse Ogletree, 36, has now donated more than 2,600 liters of breast milk, making it a donation by a single person.
Her dedication to this cause dates back to 2010, and she continues to inspire countless others with her selfless approach to promoting the health and welfare of at-risk babies.
How Alyse Began Her Journey as a Breast Milk Donor
Alyse’s journey began with the accidental discovery following the birth of her now 14-year-old son, Kyle. She noticed that she was producing a lot more milk than her baby could keep up with. For some time, she had been throwing away the overflow until a hospital nurse told her it could be donated. That one little remark set Alyse toward what is now one of the largest-ever individual milk donations.
Donations first served as a means of not letting things go to waste, but it soon became much more than that. She felt that her excess milk would go on to feed other babies, particularly premature or sick infants. She perfected the routine over the next several years by maintaining a rigid schedule for pumping and staying healthy enough to meet the physiological toll of production.
Alyse’s story is one of how small, personal decisions can become great acts of kindness. Breaking Records and Pushing the Limits Alyse’s commitment to milk donation was highly exemplified in 2014 when she broke the record with a donation of 1,569.79 liters. Although this was a great accomplishment, it did not mean her efforts stopped there.
She carried on her dedication through the birth of her other children, Kage, now 12, and Kory, 7, as well as while she was a surrogate mother. Each season of life only furthered her dedication to helping others through breast milk donation.
As of July 2023, Alyse had achieved an incredible total of 2,645.58 liters, just in time to break the record once again. This total does not include the milk donated since then and speaks of her commitment to helping others, unwavering.
Though having already given more than anyone could imagine, she goes on with her donation, knowing every ounce can help make a difference to a mother and baby in need. She also received praise and thanks from the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas for her commitment, to which she channeled her donation. Moreover, this is confirmed by the heartfelt expression of thanks that was extended to Alyse for such unparalleled generosity in touching so many lives.
The Motivation Behind Alyse’s Unmatched Generosity
To Alyse, donating breast milk is more than an attempt at breaking records or even getting recognition.
It comes from a place of wanting to help others in a meaningful way. Alyse told me that while she may not have a lot of financial resources to donate, she does have something with immense value that she can create and pass on to those who need it: the kindness and dedication toward helping others through breast milk donation are almost a testament to her character.
Alyse is also acting on her interest in helping to encourage other women to think about milk donation. So many new mothers—just like the one she used to be—do not realize they have that avenue to use their extra milk to feed infants in need. Whether it be a case of producing more milk than their baby needs or finding themselves with some stored-in freezers, every little bit can make a huge difference to a family who is struggling.
Alyse’s story is one of spreading awareness about the difference milk banks can make, and she encourages others to look into the option of donation.
In addition to maintaining a consistent schedule, Alyse attributes good hydration, a balanced diet, and a disciplined pumping routine to her ability to donate such a large quantity of milk. Interestingly, she has not been diagnosed with any medical condition to explain her high milk production—it is simply a natural capacity that she has embraced and used for good.
