Hold Put On Breast Milk Donations To Haiti

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The urgent call for human milk donations has recently been put on hold.

Safety has become an issue due to the unstable situation in Haiti as the lack of space and electricity pose a risk. In the U.S., donors are rigorously screened beforehand. The milk is then pasteurized, processed and frozen before being distributed on dry ice to sick babies across the country. Like cows milk, breast milk will become rancid if left unrefrigerated.

The unfortunate news from all of this is that 500 ounces of the breast milk donated to the U.S. Navy ship Comfort in Haiti will go unused.

Growing Your Baby reports:

A spokesperson for the American Red Cross says the milk was not requested. Officials are asking women who have inquired about donating breast milk to Haiti after the earthquake to hold off on donations for now.

Source: Growing Your Baby

Human Milk Donations Desperately Needed For Haiti Infants

An urgent call for human milk donations has been made by The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant Association/United States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League International (LLLI).

These organizations have come together asking for donations for premature and sick infants in both Haiti and the United States.  Donor milk provides unique protection for fragile preterm infants.

Although these organizations have already responded to requests responding to requests to provide human milk, they are in urgent need of additional donations as the supply is quickly being depleted. 

"An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Bethesda, MD is assisting with providing breast pump equipment and supplies to the “Comfort.” Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist, is on board the “Comfort” to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need."

UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and medical professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be used for infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due to its disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend on water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to provide support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue breastfeeding, and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding.

Mother's who are willing and able to donate human milk should contact their regional Mothers’ Milk Bank of HMBANA. Please visit their website for a list of regional milk banks.

Additional information can be provided from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132, ILC or USLCA at 1-800-452-2478. You can also contact La Leche League at 847-519-7730.

Please remember that even if you are unable to make a donation of milk, financial donations are very much needed!

Source

Photo: US Army

Breast feeding is highly beneficial to mother's health

According to New York times a recent study shows that breast feeding is not only good for baby but for mama too.

"Women who have breast-fed are at lower risk than mothers who have not for developing high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease decades later."

"The research, which is to be published in the May issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, analyzed data on some 139,681 women who had enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term national study of postmenopausal women."

"Women who reported a lifetime history of more than a year of breast-feeding were 20 percent less likely to have diabetes, 12 percent less likely to have hypertension, 19 percent less likely to have high cholesterol and 9 percent less likely to have had a heart attack or a stroke by the time they enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative."

" Other recent studies suggest nursing may also reduce the risk of osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancer, and Type 2 diabetes."

The assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz:

"We've known for a long time that it's important for the baby's health, but we now know it's important for mothers' health as well."

Breastfeeding may lower risk of sudden infant death (SIDS) by 50%

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A study that was just published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics has startling results on the associations between breastfeeding and SIDS.

"In the current study, the authors examined data from the German Study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The study included 333 infants who died from SIDS in Germany between 1998 and 2001, as well as 988 age-matched controls. The authors examined the history of breastfeeding before the babies' death and compared them to the history of breastfeeding of the healthy control peers up to the same age.

The results:

By two weeks of age only 50% of the SIDS cases were breastfeed. In contrast, by this age, 83% of the healthy babies were breastfed.

By one month of age, only 40% of the SIDS cases were exclusively breastfed compared to 72% of the healthy babies. In addition, 50% of the SIDS cases were not breastfed at all compared to only 17% of the healthy peers. The percentage of both groups that were partially breastfed was the same at around 10%.

Most importantly, during the month before their death, 78% of SIDS babies had not been breastfed, compared to 39% of the healthy babies at the equivalent age. Only 9% of the SIDS babies were exclusively breastfed during this month compared to 34% of the healthy peers. Moreover, during this time, 13% of the SIDS cases were partially breastfed, compared to 28% of the healthy peers."

Breast milk contains immunoglobulin which is an antibody that plays a critical role in the human immune system. This antibody has been shown to improve immune systems in infants, children and adults. It is likely that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS by enhancing the baby's immune system. This reduces the risk of dangerous infection-induced inflammatory reactions.

Source:

Stems cells found in breast milk!

What an amazing discovery!

A Perth scientist has discovered that there are stem cells in breast milk.

“We already know how breast milk provides for the baby’s nutritional needs, but we are only just beginning to understand that it probably performs many other functions,” says Dr Cregan, a molecular biologist at The University of Western Australia.

“We have shown these cells have all the physical characteristics of stem cells. What we will do next is to see if they behave like stem cells,” he says.



Mammary stem cells (red/blue) and adult mammary cells (green) isolated from human
breast milk.

You can read the entire article here.

A cure for the common diaper rash... Breast milk!

I recently came across an interesting tip while looking for a way to get rid of my month old daughter's diaper rash. It wasn't a yeast related rash just your standard diaper rash and it would improve slightly when I aired her bum out periodically. The drugstore diaper creams weren't working so I was beginning to get anxious as to what I should do.

After extensive research online, I came across an interesting piece of information. Apparently breast milk helps to clear diaper rashes if applied generously to the rash area and allowed to air dry. I was aware of some of the healing properties of breastmilk, such as eye and ear infections as well as stuffy noses however diaper rashes? I hadn't heard of that one before although it would make sense considering that it is sterile and antibacterial.

Well I tried it today and applied the milk to her bottom after two diaper changes. The first time I applied it I saw a significant difference. Her bottom wasn't as red and parts of the rash had faded. The second time I saw even more of an improvement and her rash is almost completely gone! I am completely thrilled and so relieved that my baby's bum is healing so nicely!

It amazes me how my body can provide such a perfect food for my baby, keep her from getting sick and at the same time help to heal her little body. Breastmilk truly is "liquid gold".