Breast Milk Donations Needed!
We see plenty of milky smiles on television commercials and in printed media, but unless something changes we will not see those smiles on the faces of needy babies! Milk banks throughout this country are running dangerously low on donated breast milk and are being forced to turn away hungry babies.
Premature babies often cannot digest anything but breast milk and hospitals turn to the milk banks literally to save lives, yet supply is running so low that many of these hospitals needs cannot be met, nor can the needs of outpatient babies be met. Sadly, while supply runs so very low, the number of premature births, and thus the need for donated human milk, is running high.
The benefits of breast milk are many, including:
• Cholesterol and other types of fat in human milk support the growth of nerve tissue.
• Breastfed babies get fewer ear infections; have fewer and less severe upper respiratory infections, less wheezing, less pneumonia and less influenza.
• Heart rates are lower in breastfed infants.
• Stronger immune systems
• Reduces the risk of getting diabetes.
• Healthier kidneys
According to one doctor "The main benefit with a preemie is their digestive tract is immature. Therefore it's felt that breast milk is better absorbed, the nutrients are better absorbed, the nutrients are more available to the baby, they seem to grow better, there are less cases of an infection," and this opinion is shared by many. Womenshealth.gov is a powerful resource of information on breastfeeding. Many babies, however, simply must have more human milk than their mother can provide in order to survive.
To learn more about breastfeeding or to find a human milk bank near you, ask your doctor, your local hospital, or one of the many sources of information online including MilkBanking.net.
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