Elisabeth Anderson-Sierra, a 35-year-old mother from Oregon, has become a Guinness World Record breaker by donating over 350,000 ounces (1,600 liters) of her own breastmilk to premature babies worldwide. This astonishing feat took her a total of 958 days to accomplish.
Anderson-Sierra, who has hyperlactation syndrome, a rare condition that causes excessive milk production, spends four to five hours a day pumping nearly two gallons of milk. She describes the experience as equivalent to a full-time job.
Not only has Anderson-Sierra set the record for the largest donation of breastmilk by an individual, but she continues to donate even more after achieving the record. She estimates that she has donated at least 10,000 more ounces since then.
Her generous donations have benefitted many infants who were labeled as “failure to thrive” due to their inability to develop normally and gain weight. These donations have brought hope and saved lives.
Anderson-Sierra is also passionate about supporting other mothers. As a Certified Lactation Counselor and Director of Lactation Services for BabyBuddha, she coaches moms daily on pumping techniques and shares her experiences on social media. Her goal is to help mothers navigate the challenges of breastfeeding and provide support.
While Anderson-Sierra plans to eventually stop pumping, her focus, for now, is ensuring the needs of her 8-month-old son are met. She is open to exploring medical interventions to decrease milk production in the future.
Meeting the recipients of her donations has been an incredibly fulfilling experience for Anderson-Sierra. Seeing the healthy babies and knowing she played a role in their growth is heartwarming. She cherishes the relationships she has formed with grateful families and finds it gratifying to make a difference in their lives.
Elisabeth Anderson-Sierra’s dedication and selflessness have undoubtedly made a tremendous impact on premature babies and their families around the world.
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Photo by Nikolai Chernichenko
