YRMC partners with nat’l breast milk bank
Offers human donor milk to qualifying infants
When baby Tessa first came into this world, it was unbeknownst to her or her mother that she would be the very first newborn to receive human donor milk following its recent implementation in Yuma Regional Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
After the collaboration between YRMC and the Prolacta Bioscience company in April, Tessa was born, prematurely, on April 19 along with her twin brother, Carter.
“At my 34-week ultrasound I was admitted into the hospital because Tessa had an inner uterine growth restriction, which just meant that for whatever reason her growth rate fell below the tenth percentile for babies in her gestational age,” Tessa’s mother, Lana Shapiro, said. “That was very concerning to the doctor and he admitted me into the hospital right away after my ultrasound. They were born at 34 weeks and five days. I delivered them via C-section and both twins were admitted into the NICU immediately.”
YRMC NICU director Tarisai Zivira explained that following a cesarean section, some mothers may initially not be able to produce enough milk to feed their babies, as was the case with Shapiro.
“The challenge is that sometimes when moms have a C-seciton they are given some medica-
tion that may make them drowsy and that slows their system,” Zavira said. “When the baby is born they might not be able to produce that milk supply immediately and after a baby is born, they need to be fed. Granted, they might sometimes be on IV fluids but the goal is always to give them the breast milk. Eventually, we wean the baby off the donor milk and feed them mother’s milk once she produces enough milk. The mother’s breast milk is more customized for the baby and matches their gestation.”
Shapiro said she was approached by NICU staff after the birth of her twins regarding the donor milk.
“They asked me if I wanted to participate in this program for the donor breast milk and I elected to do so,” Shapiro recalled. “The significance of human breast milk is amazing for babies just in general. Because of Tessa’s size, there were just so many precautions that we had to take, and so being able to know that Tessa was getting the best milk — it was just more reassuring than anything.”
One in 10 babies is born prematurely, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A preterm birth is defined by the CDC as a birth that occurs before 37 weeks have been completed.
The CDC webpage on preterm birth shows that many times what causes a woman to deliver early is unknown and that in 2013, 36 percent of infant deaths were due to preterm-related causes.
“For the longest time we’ve always wanted to give babies (human) breast milk if we can,” Zavira said. “As nurses and medical staff we realize that babies need breast milk to thrive. They tend to gain weight, thrive better and they tend not be as prone to diseases as compared to other babies who are strictly formula-fed. We just wanted to have that option for mothers who want their babies to receive 100 percent human breast milk.”
In total, about three babies have qualified and received the donor breast milk since its implementation in the YRMC NICU unit, she added. Zavira said the Prolacta donor milk can last up to two years in frozen storage but only lasts for 48 hours once opened.
Zivira noted that premature babies have unique nutritional requirements. The donor milk will be typically given to infants who are born at less than 32 weeks and weigh less than 1,500 grams, or less than three pounds and five ounces. With these cases, medical staff with YRMC said they can provide a human milk fortifier to meet the unique nutritional requirements such as additional calories, protein, vitamins and minerals.
At the time of Tessa’s birth, she weighed in at three pounds and two ounces. Her brother, who did not qualify to receive the donor milk, weighed in at four pounds and 14 ounces.
Four months after their birth, Tessa now weighs in at almost 10 pounds and her brother Carter now weighs in at almost 13 pounds.
“Looking at them today you really can’t tell a difference between them,” said YRMC NICU Nurse Dionne Shy, who cared for the twins after their birth. “Remembering them on the day that they were born-the dramatic size difference between themand seeing the benefits of what the Prolacta provided for Tessa, it’s just amazing. Her growth has been tremendous.”
Zavira added that donor milk has immunological factors and enzymes that protect premature babies from infection as well as aiding a baby’s stomach and digestive tract to develop.
A human breast milk diet is also associated with reduced infections and inflammatory disease such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which is the inflammation of the intestines causing tissue injury or death.
NEC is the most common and serious intestinal disease among premature babies, the YRMC medical staff noted, and can sometimes be fatal. Additionally, YRMC officials note that NEC survivors often face lifelong health complications.
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that preterm infants receive pasteurized, donated human milk if the mother’s own milk is not available. A 100 percent milk-based diet can help reduce the odds of developing NEC as well as other significant complications, Zavira said.
The NICU guidelines and policies regarding the implementation of donor milk was created in collaboration with YRMC nursing staff and physicians.
Mothers with extra breast milk can donate from their homes at no cost. Following a health screening, mothers who wish to donate receive free supplies for storage and have their excess milk picked up from their homes.
Then, the breast milk is sent to Prolacta Bioscience where it is tested, pasteurized and made into 100 percent human milk nutritional products that are formulated to meet the needs of critically ill premature infants in the NICU, according to YRMC staff and the Prolacta Bioscience website.
Prolacta’s human milk products are labeled with nutritional value and sold to hospitals. To qualify as a donor, a mother must complete and pass the medical and lifestyle history questionnaire, obtain a health confirmation from a physician and the baby’s pediatrician, pass a blood test for HIV 1 and 2, HBV, HTLV, HCV and syphilis, provide a cheek swab to establish a DNA profile and verify acceptable freezer temperature.
Every shipment of donated human milk is cross-matched with the DNA profile, screened for viruses and bacteria and tested for drugs of abuse, nicotine and adulteration.
“Our collaboration with Prolacta gives us an opportunity for the community to have a safe place through the hospital where they can easily donate their excess milk,” Zavira said. “It’s a beautiful thing knowing that your milk will help other babies thrive who really need it and can benefit from it.”
Zavira noted Prolacta will not take breast milk from mothers who are presently breastfeeding to ensure they have adequate milk for their own babies. Extra milk is typically taken from mothers who elect to donate after they are finished breastfeeding and their child is eating more solid foods.
For more information on donating breast milk, contact the NICU unit at 928-336-7661.