Doing My Part... Helping Our NICU Babies

Did you know that one single ounce of breast milk can feed a critically ill or preemie NICU baby up to three times? I didn’t. That is until just recently.

When my first daughter was born, I anticipated her birth like any first time parent. What would she be like? Would I be a good mother? Like many new parents, we went to all the childbirth and lactation classes. I knew I was going to have to go back to work in order to help put my husband through his graduate degree, but I still wanted to be able to offer my child the benefits of breast milk. I read books and prepared and by God’s grace was able to nurse and pump at work till we learned I was pregnant with our second baby when our first was 13 months. I say this was by God’s grace because I know many moms struggle to do this same thing and just don’t produce enough milk or face other difficulties that can come along with breastfeeding. I am not writing to bring guilt or condemnation on any mother that was not able to or simply chose not to breastfeed their child. I know many thriving and happy children who followed that route. Nursing was simply an extremely special privilege for me with my babies, and I felt overwhelmingly blessed to be able to offer that to my kids.

With both of my first two children, I had heard rumors of milk banks where you could donate any excess frozen breast milk for use in hospitals, but I honestly never took the time to investigate it further. With the birth of my third child, I started out nursing and pumping like I had with my others to help establish my milk supply. As he started sleeping a little longer at night, I found I could pump first thing in the morning and get an extra few ounces every day. As the days went by and I continued to do this, my small freezer began to fill up quickly. It was at this point I could make a choice. I could allow my milk supply to decrease so that I made just enough for my single baby, or I could look into the possibility of milk banking and helping countless other babies with that extra milk. This time I chose the second. With just a minimal amount of research, I found that there was indeed a milk bank just a few miles from my home. With just one phone interview, some paperwork and a blood test, I was donating my excess milk to the Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas. This wonderful organization is passionate about providing breast milk to hospitals where critically ill and premature babies are being helped along the road to recovery through being prescribed pasteurized breast milk. God knew what He was doing when He created this “liquid gold.” Countless research shows, breast milk is full of healing antibodies, is easy to digest and is affordable for both hospitals and parents/babies. Knowing these precious babies are being offered a chance at life and my excess milk is helping in that process is a wonderful feeling. When I dropped off my milk at the Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas, I learned they are processing approximately 3000 ounces of milk per day, and yet they have hospitals on waiting lists to obtain breast milk for their NICU babies. I knew if I was unaware of this need I was sure others were as well.

If you happen to be a nursing mother, please consider the possibility of taking a little extra time and effort to continue or start pumping so you can provide these babies with this precious resource. Or, if you happen to have milk in your freezer or deep freeze that will not be used by your baby, please consider the possibility of donating it to this organization. They have many drop off locations around Texas, or they will even send you packaging to mail your frozen milk to their location if you are out of town. What a great God we serve that He would make such perfect nutrition for our most vulnerable little ones. Like I said before, just one ounce can feed a NICU baby up to three times. I hope we can work together to offer this to more little ones fighting for their lives.

For more information on Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas, visit www.texasmilkbank.org or call 1-866-810-0071.