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Support the establishment of the milk bank
December 2010Dear Friends, Family, and Members of the Community,In the United States, 1 in 8 babies is born prematurely. For these babies, mother’s milk is more than just nutrition, it is crucial to saving lives. For example, neonatologists know that preterm babies without access to human milk are 6 to 7 times more likely to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disorder of prematurity that attacks and destroys the intestines. Consider:
- 1.5% of preterm infants fed human milk acquire NEC
- 10-17% of preterm infants fed formula acquire NEC
- Of those babies who acquire NEC, many die or develop lifelong complications from the illness
To save these tiny lives, we are proud to announce the formation of a human milk bank in the Chicago-Milwaukee area. The Illinois Milk Bank Project has teamed up with the Mothers’ Milk Association of Wisconsin (MMAW) and will soon officially merge, changing their names to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. This developing, not-for-profit, milk bank will operate under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and will serve local hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin.In major cities worldwide, human milk banks collect donor milk from local mothers, pasteurize it, and test it for safety. They then provide this life-giving milk to preterm and sick infants in area hospitals via physician prescription. In some countries, the threat of NEC has been virtually eliminated with exclusive use of human milk for these fragile babies. Our babies deserve this same life-saving resource.Today, our exciting venture is in its early stages. We expect to begin processing donor milk in 2011. But before our first milk delivery to a baby in need, there is much work to be done. We need your help. Talk to your local hospitals about the importance of providing donor milk and spread the word to area moms about milk donation. Most importantly, as you think about your charitable giving during this holiday season, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to MMAW.* Our highly qualified team is volunteering its time to establish this milk bank. 100% of all contributions made to MMAW online will help fund the milk bank’s start-up expenses and go directly to this cause. Donate Now!We look forward to working with you and keeping you up to date on our progress every step of the way. To learn more about human milk banking and the guidelines we adhere to, visit www.hmbana.org.We sincerely thank you for your support,The Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes*As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization, all contributions to the Mothers’ Milk Association of WI are tax deductible.
So many reasons
I want to start at the beginning. Seems to make sense, right? Why am I here and why am I involved in starting a milk bank in the Western Great Lakes Region?Well, I only had a vague understanding of milk banking or milk donation prior to the birth of my second child. And I wish I had known more, but such is life.On May 1st, Lennon was born after a chosen induction at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia and low weight (the baby, not me). He was all of 4lbs 5oz and was perfect. Except, he was unable to regulate his blood sugar levels on his own. So about 45 minutes after birth, I was handed a bottle of formula to feed little Lennon. And about 15 minutes after that, he was taken to the NICU for treatment and observation.
Lennon spent 6 days in the NICU, and was fed formula for the first two days of that stay. Never once was I educated on the risks associated with NEC or alternatively, the choice I had with obtaining human donor milk instead of formula. Of course, that would assume that this particular hospital or any hospital in the state of Illinois regularly prescribed human milk to it’s patients, especially the teeny tiny babies in the NICU.Fast forward about four months (yes, it takes some time to settle into the routine of “2 under 2″).I began researching the network of non-profit human donor milk banks, HMBANA. And also the fact that a milk bank did not exist in Illinois or Wisconsin. It seemed a mistake. How could an area with so many NICUs and so many hospitals and births not have a local milk bank? But, it was not a mistake. A milk bank did not nor had ever been established in this region. And, as I probed further, no one was working on starting one either.And I couldn’t think of a good reason why I shouldn’t start one.And so the story begins, and there are many more reasons why I am compelled to start a milk bank. But that is for another time.Marissa
