Elise Ogletree
Appearances
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
After I had my first son, I was producing a lot of extra milk. But at that point in time, I didn't know that there were other families in the world that didn't produce the milk. And so I was throwing it away recklessly. And once I learned that I had a gift, I wanted to share it. And the thought and idea of being able to impact other families and help save other babies, it feels good.
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
I had a fantastic support system. I stuck with my schedule. I pumped every three hours religiously. That includes overnight. But The knowing that what I was doing was good for others is what kept me motivated and kept me wanting to do it.
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
It feels remarkable and amazing. At the end of the day, I'm not made of money. I have a family of my own, and so I can't volunteer and do a lot. But I was able to spend a good chunk of my time, but I was able to give back so much more than that time was worth.
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
Well, first you get in contact with a registered milk bank. They'll walk you through their screening process and And then you just do what your body does and produce milk and freeze it and get it to them, regardless of whether it's 100 ounces or 1,000. Every ounce matters.
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
Oh, 100%. I know some people think, well, it's all on the mothers, like the ones that are producing the milk. But it's not just on us. It's on everyone. Again, I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support system I have cheering me on. But then also just from like a knowledge standpoint, when we have our babies, like our brains are tired.
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
We could be overproducing and then just not even think about donating. And so it's on the dads, the brothers, the uncles, the aunts. It's on everyone.
Global News Podcast
The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies
And you're listening to The Happy Palate on the BBC World Service. Music. Hi, I'm Janet Jalil, and in this edition... The thought and idea of being able to impact other families and help save other babies, it feels good.