"Booby Traps" in the NICU and How Donor Milk Can Help

I recently read an article from a great site, Best for Babes, that discussed challenges to breastfeeding that moms encounter when their baby must spend time in the NICU. The article was one of many in a series that brings to light societal challenges to breastfeeding that almost leave breastfeeding moms defenseless and defeated. In any case, one of the NICU challenges the article discussed mentions lack of donor milk.

The lack of milk available in NICUs is multi-facited. Some hospitals don't offer donated milk at all forcing moms of fragile babies to depend on artificial feeding if she experiences difficulty or is not allowed to provide milk herself via nursing or pumping. Some hospitals offer donated milk, but it may not be a feasible option if the patient's insurance does not cover the cost (despite the fact that treating illnesses that donated milk can help fight could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in comparison). Only a few hospitals provide donated milk (if the mother can't/doesn't provide it) regardless of insurance (at cost to the hospital) but typically this is based on the gestational age of the preemie. Fortunately this number of hospitals is growing, but it is still very low. The cost of donated milk itself can be daunting if insurance refuses to pay for it. Donated milk can cost $3-4 per ounce. That means if parents choose donated milk regardless of the insurance company's refusal to pay, parents could spend $16-60 PER DAY their baby is in the NICU. Depending on the age and development of the baby, that could be several months worth of milk. In addition, physically having the adequate quantity needed on hand to provide to babies is necessary as well, which is a huge concern considering that over the past several weeks, the milk bank I donate to was several thousand ounces short of requested milk. They physically could not supply what was needed by the hospitals they provide milk for.

Certainly, it is up to the administrations of individual hospitals to determine if they will make donor milk available to their patients, but likely lack of supply could be a leading factor in the decision. Obviously, one of the biggest contributing factors to helping babies thrive in the NICU is encouraging and supporting the moms to breastfeed and pump for their infants. Donor milk can help fill in the gaps to protect these babies from life-threatening diseases. The more moms that are willing to become donors and the more milk that is donated will help relieve some of the stress on hospitals meaning they have more to provide to their patients. If these hospitals are able to receive adequate supplies, perhaps more hospitals could be served by milk banks, helping more babies.

It's a lot of pressure when the big picture is examined, but every ounce counts - in more ways than one, and every donor can help new moms break free from a very common "booby trap."