Milk Banks, Giving Infants A Healthy Start

By Expert Contributor Katie Kovaleski

Image via: gettyimages.com

While most people are familiar with blood banks and the wealth of good giving blood can do for those in need, fewer are familiar with a new concept that can help provide infants in need with the nutrition they deserve: milk banks.

“A milk bank based out of WakeMed in Raleigh is helping newborns across the state and all along the East Coast, but they need more donors to keep up with the demand” (milk bank, 2015).

Anyone who meets basic health criteria can donate; similar to the way a blood bank is set up. This particular facility produces over 20,000 ounces every month, an impressive amount that does infants in need a world of good.

“Simply getting access to mother's milk, even if it's not from their own mothers, can not only boost babies' immune systems and help them recover, in some cases it can also be the difference between life and death.

We know that mother's milk significantly decreases the risk of something called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which is a very severe intestinal problem that premature babies get and really no one else gets," said Dr. Young".

This amazing system allows mothers who either have an overabundance of milk or even unused frozen milk to send in their extra production free of cost.

“But regardless of the reason why women decide to donate, it is crucial to the babies relying on it, and it's much-appreciated by their parents”.

One father with twin sons utilized this service when his boys were born prematurely and their mother couldn’t produce enough milk.

"[It's] wonderful, wonderful. I think it's a great cause that mothers who have extra breast milk, just like giving blood, you're helping out someone you don't know, a complete stranger".

Milk banks will most likely be the wave of the future and anyone in the North Carolina area or the East Coast should look into helping promote or donate if they can. Click here to get more info: Milk Banking.