Megan’s twins, Declan and Breck, were born prematurely at just 30 weeks. Declan weighed 4 pounds, while Breck, delivered by C-section five hours later, weighed just 3 pounds 11 ounces. Both boys were rushed to the NICU, and Breck faced additional challenges during his NICU stay. He required emergency surgery for a hole in his intestines at just four days old.
Megan had always planned to breastfeed, but her milk supply was greatly impacted by the trauma of their birth. “My body, it produced, but it was very minimal,” said Megan. “It was diminishing because of the trauma that I had gone through.”
Megan worked diligently with a lactation specialist, but she shares, “I was just not producing. One ounce was not enough for two babies at that point. A nurse and a doctor both mentioned The Milk Bank, and without hesitation, I was like, ‘yes!’”
Declan and Breck both received lifesaving donor milk from The Milk Bank during their long NICU stays. “I was already so emotional about not being able to provide enough, that finding out that that was a resource for them, I definitely was super emotional and cried grateful tears for it.”
It was especially important for Breck to have access to breastmilk due to his two intestinal surgeries. “Donor milk was my first choice of resource because it’s better for his stomach and the healing process,” Megan shared. “I was so grateful for the fact that other women have donated and that there was a service that I was able to use for both of them.
Now, Declan and Breck are thriving 10-year-olds. Their mother is certain that donor milk served not only Declan and Breck’s nutritional needs but their healing and overall health as well. “Donor human milk was absolutely lifesaving for both of them, but especially Breck who had two surgeries within the first six weeks of his life.”
Your support of The Milk Bank provides safe, pasteurized donor milk to babies born too soon, too sick, or too small. Consider making a financial gift to ensure babies just like Declan and Breck can access lifesaving donor milk when it is needed most.
