Mother's milk is the best thing for a baby to drink. That is a proven fact that is no longer lost on people. And hospitals. About 4 years ago Phoenix Children's Hospital decided to offer donor breast milk to babies who need it in their NICU.
It is a rare program. One that started, Lactation Consultant Voni Miller explains, after a change in practice began with their youngest patients. In 2006, NICU patients were given nothing to eat because the thought was that it was better to let their stomachs rest. Once it was found that rather than relaxing, it should be working a bit they decided to feed them tiny amounts, just drops of milk. Once that decision was made, rather than putting drops of formula into the baby bellies the decision was quickly made to turn to a donor milk bank.
When preemies are born it is hard for them to breast feed for 2 reasons: they are unable to perform the sucking motion necessary, not to mention, moms often don't have their milk in properly at such an early point. Or they are too sick.
Lactation consultants are very aware of the benefits breast milk gives to babies. Mother's milk is best. It carries certain properties just right for her child. But second best is any pooled, breast milk. For the tiniest patients it is especially important. Breast milk protects them from gastro-intestinal disease (which can be prevalent in preemies), it improves neuro development and even IQ. The longer they get it, the better they are. But any amount is good. The milk at Phoenix Children's Hospital comes from the Denver Milk Bank.
Who can donate to a milk bank? It's not an easy process, women have to be dedicated and willing to spend some time toward the cause. Besides having extra breast milk they have to go to a doctor for a blood test to get cleared for disease. They can not drink or take any medications. Once through that process they are sent the tools to pack up their milk and send it to the bank. They get no compensation. It is then pooled at the bank, pasteurized (just like cow's milk), frozen and given out. Because of these strict guidelines, Phoenix Children's Neonatologist Linda Slatermyer says it is not harmful. People who may be afraid of disease through the milk should not be. Due to the screening it is very difficult, if not near impossible, to have a problem.
Ultimately, Slatermyer says they get a nice return on an investment. The babies good health is worth the cost. Besides Phoenix Children's, Scottsdale-Shea and a Flagstaff hospital have the program in Arizona but it will most likely never be common practice for all babies in all hospitals. Slatermyer says, very simply, it costs too much. Formula is free. Milk from a donor bank is not free and not cheap. By the way, the milk is not limited to hospitals. Anyone can get it, most likely with a prescription from a doctor. Often, insurance does not cover.
Today, mothers appreciate the service at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Anything that benefits their baby, benefits them and perhaps all of us. To donate or find out more about the milk banks in the United States go to www.hmbana.org
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