rockin'robin
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On September 24, 2009, the lives of Ivan and Sara were changed forever. Jennifer, Ivan's wife and Sara's mother, unexpectedly passed away in her sleep. Jennifer was 33, and baby
Sara was only 6 weeks old. Suddenly, Ivan's life was turned upside down. One of the most pressing issues was how he would feed his infant daughter, since Sara was breastfed."
When this sad news made its way through the local breastfeeding community, the mamas responded in force, launching a campaign to do what the Orlando mother wanted: to nourish her new baby with breast milk.
So far -- in just two weeks, a group of nine mothers have pumped more than 750 ounces. (The average infant consumes between 19 and 35 ounces of breast milk a day.)
"The community support has been simply incredible, and I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing community of moms," said organizer Amanda Pacheco of Orlando.
Letters were also sent out to businesses, asking for help. And they responded in kind. Lansinoh donated milk storage supplies. Medela sent pumping bottles. Motherlove Herbal Company provided supplements to aid in milk production. And Sleepywrap sent along a baby carrier.
Local businesses stepped forward to help the cause: midwife Diane Albright at All Beginnings Inc. and The Birth Place agreed to do bloodwork at a discount. And play lounge Amaya Papaya and Spark! Family Entertainment Center signed on as milk dropoff locations.
I realize that this concept of feeding one's child with another's breast milk is foreign to many parents. But for a growing community of women, breast milk isn't just the best nourishment, it's a child's right. For these moms, this is the only way.
Pacheco says she's still waiting to receive more screening materials to get more moms qualified to donate.
All donor moms are screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis and HTLV. They also can't smoke, take medications (or illicit drugs), have had blood transfusion in the past 12 months.
You get the picture. Donor breast milk is safe. Some might argue it's even safer than consuming cow's milk.
Winter Park mom Sarah Boye is one of the pumping moms. "I don't know the family. I'm doing it because I would hope someone would do the same if this tragedy happened to my family."
I'm personally amazed by this show of support, especially when lately there seems to be so many divisions among mothers.
Dad Ivan understandably isn't really ready to talk about the loss of his wife. But I like to think this movement has provided at least a small amount of comfort.
To learn more about the donor breast-milk drive for baby Sara and how you can help, visit the Get PUMPed Web site.
Orlando Sentinel - Local moms organize to donate breast milk to newborn whose mother died
Sara was only 6 weeks old. Suddenly, Ivan's life was turned upside down. One of the most pressing issues was how he would feed his infant daughter, since Sara was breastfed."
When this sad news made its way through the local breastfeeding community, the mamas responded in force, launching a campaign to do what the Orlando mother wanted: to nourish her new baby with breast milk.
So far -- in just two weeks, a group of nine mothers have pumped more than 750 ounces. (The average infant consumes between 19 and 35 ounces of breast milk a day.)
"The community support has been simply incredible, and I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing community of moms," said organizer Amanda Pacheco of Orlando.
Letters were also sent out to businesses, asking for help. And they responded in kind. Lansinoh donated milk storage supplies. Medela sent pumping bottles. Motherlove Herbal Company provided supplements to aid in milk production. And Sleepywrap sent along a baby carrier.
Local businesses stepped forward to help the cause: midwife Diane Albright at All Beginnings Inc. and The Birth Place agreed to do bloodwork at a discount. And play lounge Amaya Papaya and Spark! Family Entertainment Center signed on as milk dropoff locations.
I realize that this concept of feeding one's child with another's breast milk is foreign to many parents. But for a growing community of women, breast milk isn't just the best nourishment, it's a child's right. For these moms, this is the only way.
Pacheco says she's still waiting to receive more screening materials to get more moms qualified to donate.
All donor moms are screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis and HTLV. They also can't smoke, take medications (or illicit drugs), have had blood transfusion in the past 12 months.
You get the picture. Donor breast milk is safe. Some might argue it's even safer than consuming cow's milk.
Winter Park mom Sarah Boye is one of the pumping moms. "I don't know the family. I'm doing it because I would hope someone would do the same if this tragedy happened to my family."
I'm personally amazed by this show of support, especially when lately there seems to be so many divisions among mothers.
Dad Ivan understandably isn't really ready to talk about the loss of his wife. But I like to think this movement has provided at least a small amount of comfort.
To learn more about the donor breast-milk drive for baby Sara and how you can help, visit the Get PUMPed Web site.
Orlando Sentinel - Local moms organize to donate breast milk to newborn whose mother died