Donate Breast Milk, Save Preemies' Lives
Human milk dramatically boosts the chances for sick and fragile newborns to survive; however, not every mom can produce it. By Summer Cassidy, RN, BSN, IBCLC, Lactation Educator, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital.
Every day, I work with new mothers to assist them in nursing their newborns. If their baby is premature or sick, I help them pump so they can establish and maintain their milk supply. Aside from the numerous advantages that human (breast) milk provides to the healthiest newborns, it is highly recommended for premature babies who spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). For these infants, human milk has life-saving health benefits: The NICU mothers I work with understand the importance of their milk. They pump so that they can provide their infants with this life saving milk. Unfortunately, not every mother can breastfeed or provide all of her infants nutritional needs by pumping. This may be a result of a low milk supply, …
In this Article:
