Mothers' Milk Bank Austin

The following blog post was submitted by the mother of a former donor human milk recipient. Her story demonstrates the heart-wrenching experiences of families with fragile babies, and the critical importance of non-profit milk banking in supplying safe donor milk. Links have been created to explain some of the more medical terminology – explore as you would. Hunter was born July 6, 2011 with jejunal atresia .   A previous ultrasound at 34 weeks gestation, detected the obstruction as well as meconium in the fluid.   My obstetrician reassured me that it was treatable; it just meant that he would need to have surgery and would spend a little time in the neonatal intensive care unit. I went into labor on July 5, 2011 at 11:00pm.   I was so elated to finally be having him and getting him the help he needed. The delivery was a lot more stressful than I could have ever imagined. His shoulders got stuck, resulting in a broken clavicle. The worst was yet to come. ...

The Prez says….. Hello, my name is Dr. Peter B. Untalan and I am a neonatologist here in Austin.   A neonatologist is a doctor who takes care of sick newborns.   The babies a neonatologist takes care of can include a full-term infant born with pneumonia or a heart condition, but most people associate us with taking care of premature babies. Premature babies face many challenges on their journey to get home with their parents.   They aren’t big enough to maintain their own temperature. Their skin is so thin they can literally dehydrate in a matter of hours.   Their immune system is so fragile that normal skin bacteria can cause life-threatening infections.   Their lungs are tissue thin and some need extra oxygen when they go home.   Their brain and eyes aren’t completely developed and any interruption in development can be damaging to the baby’s brain and ability to see. Technology is developing at a rapid pace, allowing us to take care of smaller an...

Thank you, Maria Parlapiano (AKA GrAuntie Maria) for the following blog submission.  Maria shares Baby Charlotte's survival story of a traumatic brain injury and how human milk is credited with her miraculous turn-around .   I willfully submit that my faith and resolve in who I am and what I stand for, were put to the ultimate test by none other than a small, injured child.   It was this extraordinary baby that compelled me to fiercely answer the call to advocate and protect for her ultimate good and in turn, for the greater good of all babies and children. Following is the remarkable account of my experience as “health guardian” of a baby called Charlotte Rose, the miracle bestowed upon her and the unexpected journey she took me on that changed my life forever.     In December, my grandniece Charlotte Rose suffered a massive, traumatic brain injury. She was eleven months old. Airlifted to a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, Charlotte...

Enjoy the following blog submitted by a mother who receives donor human milk from the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin for her son. She shares her emotional trials of finally having a son, not being able to breast feed, watching her child not tolerate formula, and finally, receiving life-giving milk from compassionate milk donors to the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. Thank you, Monal, for sharing this story! My husband and I have been happily married for six years. Most of those years were spent trying to have a baby.  We encountered heartbreak after heartbreak, miscarriage, being told my eggs weren't good enough to conceive, that I couldn't carry a baby to term.  We felt hopeless and broken. Finally, through a wise acupuncture and IVF team, and the help of a great surrogate-mom, we finally have our precious baby boy, Luke.  He has been a long-pined-for blessing in our lives. From the beginning, we wanted our son to receive the most wholesome, healthy, nutri...