- Formal milk banks all over the country report low donor milk supplies.
- COVID has led to parents pumping less, and a slight drop in breast-milk donations.
- However, demand for pasteurized milk is increasing. This is a sign of greater acceptance of donated milk.
Deborah Youngblood was the executive director of Mothers Milk Bank NortheastShe looks at the freezers in her organization and feels uneasy. Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast provides pasteurized breast milk to the most vulnerable infants — usually preemies — at more than 100 hospitals. Youngblood stated that although the bank has sufficient milk to meet current demand, it is currently short of supply.
“We’ve got just enough supply to meet demand right this minute, but I don’t have that backup so a month from now I’m confident we can meet demand,”She spoke to Insider.
Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast does not have the only one. Mother’s Milk Bank San Jose is featured this monthPostedA picture of empty shelves.
“We are empty,”The caption is as follows: “This means children that medically require donor milk with a prescription are unable to get the lifesaving milk they need to survive.”
Research drives higher demand
Youngblood stated that there are two reasons for the shortage. According to Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast, the positive side is that demand for donor milk has risen by 15% since March 2021.
ResearchResearch shows that preemies who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing necrotizing Enterocolitis. This is a deadly condition for babies. Preemies who are formula-fed areSix to ten timesThis condition is more common in children who have low birthweights. Breastfeeding is crucial for these babies.
Premature infants who don’t have sufficient breast milk can be prescribed pasteurized donor dairy milk by doctors. It is obtained from formal milk banks.
“Increasingly, the medical community is recognizing the real importance and value of pasteurized human-donor milk,”Youngblood stated. “While we don’t want babies to be in those scenarios where they’re in need, we’re glad that we’re here to help.”
COVID clamps down supply
Demand for milk is on the rise, but supply is decreasing. When parents became home with their babies and no longer needed their freezer supplies, donations rose at first. Parents like Julia Pelly from North Carolina, who pumps milk through a peer to peer network, found that being at home meant they had less time pumping.
“When I was already pumping, it was easy for me to pump just a little extra every time earmarked for donation,”Pelly stated. She has less milk now that she doesn’t pump as often.
Pelly indicated that she was always willing to pump a few times to donate. Youngblood said that it was true. “there’s an exhaustion factor,”The pandemic is adding to the unpaid labor of parents. It is difficult to find the time to donate and pump.
Additionally, donors pump milk only for their child while they are nursing. Sometimes children nurse for less than a year so milk banks will need to continue replenishing their supply of donors. It’s difficult to do this during a pandemic where social events and other in-person gatherings have been halted.
Participate in milk donation
Youngblood advises anyone interested to donate to contact their local milk bank. Youngblood advises that potential donors contact the milk bank to raise concerns and Youngblood recommends that people call the milk bank rather than assume that they are not eligible to donate.
Pelly is currently pregnant with her fourth baby and has donated milk after each birth. She considers it a wonderful way of supporting mothers and infants.
“If you have a milk supply greater than your baby needs, this is the moment that we really need you to get into this pipeline so you can potentially save the life of another baby,”Youngblood stated.