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Nearly half a million babies in the United States are born prematurely every year and, worldwide, 15 million babies every year are born too soon. When a baby is born prematurely and weighs less than three pounds, three ounces, it is sometimes unlikely mom’s milk has come in.
If it has, her milk may not have all the nutrients to meet all the nutritional needs of her premature baby or she may not be able to pump enough breastmilk to properly feed her preemie. In the past, formula or cow-milk fortifier was given to premature babies, but today the benefits of breastmilk are so highly touted, formula is no longer the only option. As well, studies have recently discovered that a 100 percent human milk diet reduces the risks of dangerous illnesses. Human milk also benefits a preemies’ gastrointestinal and brain development.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastmilk for the first year of a baby’s life, but for those born prematurely, they recommend that human milk, whether mother’s own or pasteurized donor human milk (if mother’s milk is unavailable) is given.
What’s more, premature babies often need a human milk fortifier added to mom’s breastmilk or donor milk (if mom’s isn't available) to give them the extra fat and calories they need, and otherwise wouldn't get from breastmilk alone. Without your breastmilk donation, an all breastmilk-based fortifier product wouldn't be available and the only other option for preemies would be cow milk-based formula products. Some women are blessed with excess breastmilk.
If you are one of them, you may be a perfect candidate to donate to help these tiny babies get the added nutrition they need. Prolacta Bioscience operates and/or partners with a number of milk banks who work with moms who have extra breastmilk and are interested in donating. Prolacta affiliated milk banks are virtual or hospital-affiliated. Collections through these milk banks are sent to Prolacta Bioscience, where it undergoes rigorous tests for diseases, viruses, drugs, and alcohol.
After testing, it is turned into human milk nutritional products. Prolacta products are only available to hospitalized preemies and are the only ones made from all human milk protein. Without these products, preemies would receive formula products made from cow’s milk and wouldn’t receive the many benefits of breastmilk. To donate, visit Find A Milk Bank or Milk Donation Program to learn more.
With breastmilk donations, these fragile infants get the nutrition they need to grow big and strong, while being fed human milk exclusively. To celebrate the importance of donating breastmilk, the Human Milk Bank network in Brazil holds an annual day, World Day of Human Milk Donation.
World Day of Human Milk Donation is celebrated on May 19 by Brazil and 23 other countries. The date was chosen because it is when the First Letter of Brasilia, a document to form international cooperation in milk banking, was signed.