When Natasha Brenko had her second son seven months ago, she quickly learned that breastfeeding was going to be a challenge.
What the 琉璃神社 woman didn鈥檛 know, however, was that the solution she found for a short-term problem could one day bring relief to other mothers in worse circumstances.
鈥淗e had a tongue tie, and I had to exclusively pump and feed,鈥� she said.
In the first two to three months of pumping, Brenko had produced enough milk to ensure her son was well nourished and then some.
She had an extra 13 litres of breast milk that were immediately packed up and put in her freezer.
In the months that followed Brenko鈥檚 son鈥檚 tongue-tie was fixed and he was able to breastfeed. She realized that he鈥檚 more than able to get the milk he needs to flourish, but there was no way she was going to get rid of her stockpile of 鈥渓iquid gold.鈥�
So she reached out to the provincial milk bank, which is at B.C. Women鈥檚 Hospital. It鈥檚 the only milk bank in the province and provides donor milk to the sickest babies in B.C. across NICUs.
It is also always in need of donations.
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鈥淢any moms who deliver preterm babies do not produce milk right away or have enough, studies have shown that breastmilk provides needed antibodies for babies to fight infections which is critical for preemies,鈥� said a representative from BC Women鈥檚.
To get women in a donating frame of mind they sent out a call to action that tied in to the day of love.
鈥漌e were thinking for Valentine鈥檚 Day, it would be a good opportunity to remind moms to give something close to the heart: mother鈥檚 milk (breastmilk),鈥� said the representative.
Brenko offered her milk before the call for donations because she knows how important it is to be supported during the early days of having a child.
鈥淧arents in that situation are already in a difficult position and if you can take away a little bit of that stress, why not?鈥� she said.
She also said that if she was ever on the receiving end she wouldn鈥檛 hesitate to pull from its reserves.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 important to provide breast milk for my children. It鈥檚 the perfect meal,鈥� she said.
She also said she was impressed with the screening process she just went through.
She provided medical information and her had two phone interviews. Her doctor had to fill out paperwork and she had a blood test.
She said it wasn鈥檛 onerous.
It was, however, extensive and worthwhile.
鈥淭he breastmilk is going the teeny tiniest babies in the NICU and it has to be safe for the little babies, and for the parents,鈥� she said.
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