Preemie basics . . .
Each year in the U.S., 1 in 10 babies is born preterm. While a typical full-term pregnancy spans 40 weeks, these early births are defined as those occurring before week 37. That said, many infants are born much earlier – and smaller . . .
An infant born at less than 28 weeks’ gestation is widely referred to as a “micro-preemie” and it’s easy to see why. Shockingly, these babies are often born weighing just over 1lb.! Of course, if you’ve read this post then you already know just how fierce these little warriors can be.
While experts have identified several factors that increase the risk of pre-term birth (stress, pre-existing health conditions, and being pregnant with multiples included) one clear cause has yet to be established. With many “preemie moms” reporting feelings of guilt, it’s important to emphasize that early birth is never anyone’s fault. A parent can do everything “right” while pregnant and preterm birth can still occur.
The many health concerns . . .
Today, premature birth is the most common reason for a NICU admission. Tragically, it is also the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S.
Generally smaller with underdeveloped organs and bodily systems, preterm infants are not only at a higher risk for medical complications than their full-term counterparts but less “able” to fight off and recover from an illness once it has developed. While not widely known outside the medical setting, Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is unfortunately common in preterm babies. Complex and aggressive, research indicates that this intestinal infection is the most common cause of death in very premature infants after two weeks of age.
Fortunately, studies show that human milk vastly reduces a pre-term infants risk of developing conditions like NEC. For this reason, more than 80% of NICUs nationwide have human donor milk as the standard of care for preterm babies if a mother’s own milk is not available. A dynamic living fluid, breastmilk offers protective qualities for medically fragile babies that formula simply cannot.
When milk is medicine . . .
If you’ve been following us for a while, then you probably know that our milk is prioritized for the most medically fragile babies. This is because hospitals can only rely on donor milk from an accredited milk bank that ensures safety standards such as Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast – making an already limited medical resource extremely limited. In other words, when you choose to donate milk to us, you choose to help save little lives. As Renee Ferraro, IBCLC, explains “this is what makes donating to an accredited non-profit milk bank so powerful.” So now you know why our generous milk donors are better known as heroes!
Shockingly, just one ounce of milk can be enough to provide three feedings for our tiniest recipients.
Despite this, between rising prematurity rates and improved understanding of the benefits human milk offers all babies, demand for our safe, ethically sourced donor milk continues to increase. Driven by the belief that every baby deserves the best start in life, we’re committed to doing everything we can to keep up with the needs of every precious little human relying on us.
And just for fun . . .
Tiny but mighty? Fragile but fierce? No matter how you choose to describe them, some of the littlest warriors go on to achieve the BIGGEST things. Famous preemies who did much more than just catch up with their peers include Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Pablo Picasso, and Stevie Wonder.
Surprised (or shocked) to read any of the above? Interested in sharing your journey as a preemie parent? We love hearing from you! Be sure to reach out with any questions, comments, or story suggestions.
With roughly 400,000 babies born prematurely in the U.S. every year, the need for safe, life-saving donor milk is huge. Interested in becoming a milk donor? We make it easy. Simply learn more OR get the process started here. Every milk donor is a hero, but not every hero is a milk donor. You can make a difference for newborns in need by supporting (or sharing) our annual appeal. Remember, Giving Tuesday is just around the corner! *wink*
