Category: News
March 4, 2016
GUILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – Got extra breast milk? You can help save the life of a newborn.
When a mother gives birth prematurely, sometimes she just can’t produce a milk supply right away. Research shows that human milk is the best prescription for human babies especially for premature and very sick babies.
That’s where donor moms step in. [ VIDEO ]
Amy Farotti is pumped, being the first donor mom in Connecticut, dropping off breast milk her 10 month old daughter Charlotte no longer needs.
She explained, “She might take an ounce or two during the day out of a sippy cup but really she’s eating solid foods while I’m at work.”
Acelleron, a company that provides breast pumps, opened a milk bank depot in Guilford.
It’s the first in the state so that mothers like Amy can donate their surplus breast milk.
“We have a depot in our Massachusetts office,” says Jan Ferraro who runs the milk depot, “And now we have one at our Connecticut office. So moms know where they got their pump from, now they know where they can donate any extra milk they have.”
“I didn’t realize that I could help so many babies with just what I do, naturally,” says Amy.
It’s all going to feed premature babies – struggling to survive.
“Human milk is life saving for these babies. It prevents a devastating disease called Necrotizing enterocolitis that can actually kill babies and human milk reduces the incidence of NEC by 79%,” says Ann Marie Lindquist with Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast.
It’s the non-profit which distributes the life saving milk.
Ann Marie stressed, “Casual milk sharing, milk bought on the internet, that is not what this is. That’s not what this is. We test, we pasteurize, we provide milk for fragile babies.”
The process is similar to donating blood, she says, “We’re absolutely vigilant about making sure that the mother has no infections, that she is not taking medications that are inappropriate, we need to make sure she is in good health.”
Amy delivered 122 ounces of breast milk and there’s more of it at home.
“It’s not like they are drinking 6 to 7 ounces at a time,” says Jan, ” Sometimes it’s just an ounce. So if every baby drank an ounce — that’s 122 babies right there.”
Giving back to the most fragile — is important to the Farotti family.
“Why not?” says Amy, “If you have an over abundance of milk, why wouldn’t you?”
For more information, http://www.milkbankne.org/donate
Once a mom is an approved donor, email Jan Ferraro at [email protected] or call 203-804-5974 to set up a drop-off time.
It’s located at Acelleron Medical Products, 2488 Boston Post Road, Guilford
Source: http://wtnh.com/2016/02/25/got-extra-breast-milk-consider-donating-surplus/