A remarkable woman from Texas, Alyse Ogletree, has achieved a Guinness World Record for her extraordinary generosity, donating an impressive 2,645.58 liters (approximately 700 gallons) of breastmilk. This accomplishment surpasses her previous record set in 2014 after the birth of her son, Kyle, in 2010. Initially, Alyse learned about the possibility of donating excess breastmilk when nurses noticed her overproduction and suggested she share it with mothers who faced challenges breastfeeding.
In an interview with Guinness World Records, Alyse expressed that donating milk has become a vital part of her life. “I have a big heart,” she stated, acknowledging that while she cannot continuously provide financial support due to family obligations, donating milk allowed her to give back meaningfully. Reflecting on her journey, she recalled, “I was overproducing and throwing away milk, unaware that overproduction was unique and that other mothers struggled.” After Kyle’s birth and during his hospital stay, she began filling the nurses’ freezer with her surplus milk when a nurse prompted her to consider donation.
Throughout her breastfeeding journey, Alyse has donated a total of 414 gallons (1,569.79 liters) to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas after Kyle finished nursing. Following the births of her two younger sons, Kage (12) and Kory (7), she donated an additional 528 gallons (2,000 liters) to another milk bank called Tiny Treasures and to friends in need. Although these later donations are not included in her Guinness record, they underscore her commitment to helping others.
According to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, each liter of breastmilk can nourish up to 11 premature infants. Based on this statistic, Alyse’s donations potentially provided nourishment for around 350,000 newborns across Texas. Shaina Stanks, the director of the milk bank, expressed their astonishment at Alyse’s contributions, describing them as a litmus indicator to her exceptional generosity and compassion.
While medical professionals are unsure why Alyse produces such an abundant supply of milk, she attributes her success to a well-balanced diet and proper hydration.