Breastmilk is the perfect food for babies.  It is a unique nutritional source that cannot be adequately replaced with formula. Check out this documentary clip on the amazing work being done to get more donor milk to babies in need : Prescription Milk Documentary

Studies have demonstrated a number of important health benefits to breastfeeding. Among them:

• Breast-fed children are more resistant to disease and infection early in life than formula-fed children
• Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15
• Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life, are able to lose weight gained during pregnancy more easily and have a lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer

Another interesting fact is that when a mother gives birth to a premature baby, the milk she produces contains more fats than milk produced for a full term baby in order to help with her newborn’s health needs.

What if you have a baby who is ill, in the hospital or you are not able to produce your own milk ?  Donor milk is and should be prescribed !

Many women are super producers of milk and have been donating their milk to milk banks that can then provide this “liquid gold” to babies in need.  As a mama of a very early premature baby, I can attest to the incredible stress of life in the NICU.  I pumped every three hours, around the clock, in order to provide milk to my son.  He was too small and weak to nurse, and I wanted to do whatever I possibly could to help him get big, fat and healthy.  It was a struggle to produce what he needed with the pump and many mamas in this situation simply cannot keep up the routine while also dealing with a hospital stay with their sick baby.

Want to donate ?  Here is a Portland local resource: Northwest Mothers Milk Bank

I am looking for more so let me know who I can add.