We Don't Get No Respect -- But That's OK

Over a decade ago, a colleague and I talked with some neonatologists at a nearby children's hospital about using pasteurized breastmilk for preterm babies whose mothers could not or would not choose to provide milk for their own babies.  We heard the typical "It's too expensive" argument.  Also, they just did not believe it was even necessary.  Studies were somewhat limited, so our suggestions went nowhere.

A few years ago, long after I left my position as a lactation consultant at the NICU, I heard from my colleague that the physicians had agreed to use breastmilk from a milk bank.  Evidently, a registered dietician and also a pediatrician lobbied for its use.  After giving all babies -- whose mothers' gave permission -- pasteurized breastmilk instead of formula, they saw a significant difference in the health of these babies. They knew that the babies whose mothers provided their own breastmilk fared much better.  Now, they could see that pasteurized human milk significantly improved the health of babies whose mothers did not provide breastmilk.   Fewer serious complication, like NEC, and other infections occurred (remember breastmilk helps prevent infection).  The hospital saved a huge amount of money caring for these babies, even with the cost of the milk (now about $5 an ounce).  Babies whose mothers provided their own milk did not receive pasteurized milk, unless there was a problem with the mothers maintaining their milk supply while pumping.

Now that hospital is opening a breastmilk bank!  I am glad to see this, but smile a little and shake my head.  Lactation consultants, like Rodney Dangerfield, "don't get no respect".  We knew over a decade ago what this hospital has more recently "discovered".   The hospital could have saved millions and millions of dollars in health care costs if this program had been implemented back in the early 2000's.  More babies would be enjoying life with fewer developmental and health complications.  More babies would be alive.

But, it's going to happen now, and many, many babies who would not have received the brain-growing, life protecting nourishment of breastmilk will now have it.  And fewer babies will die because they won't be getting formula.

My son is studying to become a registered dietician.  He told me as I was writing this article that another large hospital system in the area has been ordering pasteurized human milk for its special care babies.  His words:  "I don't understand why any baby in the hospital would be given formula".

The most recent statistics I have located are that the cost of a NICU stay is about $3000 a day, and this does not include helicopter flight to the NICU or any surgeries.  A 32 week old baby who is taking about 12 ounces a day of breastmilk has a "food" bill of $160 a day.  If these pre-term babies are well enough to go home only one week sooner than formula fed babies (the estimate is one to two weeks), savings to the hospital is almost $20,000 per week.  Now multiply that by a NICU which cares for 20 preemies a month, and you get a savings of around $4,800,000 a year.  And that is for just one NICU.  The CDC states that nearly one-half million preterm babies are born in the US each year.  If each premature baby is able to go home one week sooner because it has received breastmilk, then savings to the health care system is 10 BILLION dollars a year.

Now, that figure can be off somewhat either way  Some babies are born just a little premature and don't require a long enough stay for savings to be seen.  Others are born very premature, and require more costly care, including surgeries.  Many babies have mothers who are providing their own breastmilk, so there is little cost for giving it to the babies.

Still, the savings to the health care system each year could be enormous.

Even more important is that preterm babies who are given human milk will fare better developmentally, including brain development.  The health benefits they receive can last a lifetime.  Babies who receive breastmilk while in the hospital, and over the first year of life receive the greatest benefit.  Additional saving occur because these babies are less likely to be rehospitalized for respiratory and other infections.

God is a God of economy.  Nothing He creates, in its' untainted state, is wasted.  The droppings of animals fertilize the plants.  The plants take in carbon dioxide from the breaths of animals.  The plants provide food for the animals, and the cycle continues.  In the organic form, nutrition is optimal.  There are no harsh chemicals to make the animals sick when they eat the plant food.  All the nutrients the animals needs are present in their God planned diet.

Human milk is the same.  The mother takes in food.  She makes healthful milk for her baby.  It is complete.  There is nothing lacking.  Breastmilk is used more efficiently in the baby's body than is formula.  This results in which results in less waste.   There is no packaging to end up in a land fill. Breastmilk is free.

Breastmilk does a baby good.  It does premature and sick babies especially good.  It does the family good.  It also does the health care system, the environment, and the taxpayers good.  It even does the heart of a lactation consultant good -- even though we don't get "no respect".  Right, Kitty?