The Mother's Milk Bank at Austin

Wild Thing Party - Houston Zoo, Oct. 2009

2009-11-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Wild Thing. (I think I love you.)
That's how moms (and dads) feel about their kiddos.
And also how we feel about milk donors, milk depot friends, and milk recipient families in the Houston area.
We love you!
So, we threw you a little party a couple of weeks ago at the Houston Zoo. Everyone wore their costume and of course there was cake!
We thank Liane Garvin (and her son) for helping us remember a gorgeous fall afternoon at the zoo...
If you were lucky enough to be there, we thank you and really enjoyed seeing you again - or meeting you if we are new friends!
If you couldn't make it, then we hope these photos tell a story about families of all stripes (and spots) helping each other out with a little thing called milk.
And we mustn't forget to say - tell your friends:

Express Your Inner Life Saver: Donate Milk!

www.milkbank.org

Look at Us Turning 10!

2009-08-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

Board member Julie Jumonville & children get a caricature; board members Dr. Geoffrey Cox, Dr. Sonny Rivera, Barbara Wilson-Clay, executive director Rachel Muir, & Julie Jumonville

Jana Sanders, daughter of the late Dr. George Sharpe, and her daughter - along with Dr. Sonny Rivera - accept an award from milk bank recipient mom Fayruz Benyousef; Nicholas and Jack - thriving milk recipients!

Look at Us Turning 10!

2009-08-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Founding director Andrea Morgan flew in from Denver; founding board member Barbara Wilson-Clay accepts an award from Andrea and her daughter (who as a premature infant was an inspiration for the milk bank)

Julian Huerta & his son, a milk bank recipient, share their story; Sarah Sharp & the Dream Lovers sing Happy Birthday!

Look at Us Turning 10!

2009-08-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Milk bank staffer Katrina Hunt & daughter; Rachel Muir with board chair & founder Dr. Sonny Rivera & Greg Barton (Dandy Idea Design)

Board member Nancy Miller Barton befriends milk recipient Yara; board member Dr. Geoffrey Cox tries out the prizes!

Look at our 10th Birthday Party!

2009-08-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Executive director Rachel Muir (2nd from left) with board members (l to r) Nancy Miller Barton, Marshall Cothran and Jennifer Peters

Long-time staffer Marianne Wingler and friend; Junior League Volunteer Extraordinaire Stephanie Ashby

Three Rules for Breastfeeding Success

2009-07-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

About a third of new mothers experience early breastfeeding challenges. There are many reasons for this surprising fact:

Preemies may not breastfeed well until reaching 40 weeks.
After a difficult birth, a baby may be too bruised and fussy to latch on.
Moms who have a long labor may notice that it takes a few extra days for their milk to come in.
Some women have health issues that impact recovery from childbirth.

The good news is that with time, practice and patience most breastfeeding problems resolve happily.

As a seasoned lactation consultant, I offer 3 rules for success:

Protect the baby’s milk intake: Babies who are small, ill, or losing weight may fall asleep before getting enough milk from the breast. They need to be fed frequently. The doctor may suggest supplementation in order to improve weight gain. Mom’s pumped milk is the best supplement available!
Protect the milk supply: The first week is a critical time for stimulating a full milk supply. If the baby is not nursing well, experts recommend double pumping for 12 minutes 8 times a day. For best results, use a reliable pump and set the suction at the highest comfortable pumping pressure.
Protect breast focus: Skin-to-skin holding improves milk supply and calms both baby and mother. Comfort sucking ensures plenty of opportunity to practice breastfeeding. Contact a mother support group or a lactation consultant for extra help.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, IBCLC, FILCA

Our story

2009-04-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Austin neonatologist Dr. Sonny Rivera remembers the baby who started it all. Born two months early, this tiny baby boy lost two-thirds of his intestines due to complications because his mother could not provide him breast milk. Seeing this sick baby, another mom who had an ample supply of milk, offered to donate hers.

“I had to tell her no, though I felt sure breast milk was what this baby needed, because we didn’t have a way to test or pasteurize her milk.”

“After two weeks of this baby in trouble, I was going crazy. The one baby you always remember is the one you didn’t save.”

In 1999, after reviewing massive amounts of data confirming their own experience in the NICU, Dr. Rivera along with the late Dr. George Sharpe, decided to start the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin (MMBA), a community resource to improve the survival rate of premature and ill infants.

Today, Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin is a nonprofit organization which carefully screens donor mothers, accepts milk donations, and then pasteurizes and dispenses donor human milk by physician prescription to premature and ill infants. We also work to educate the medical community about the benefits of donor milk. In addition, by recruiting and supporting donor mothers we encourage breastfeeding. We are the second largest milk bank in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world.

Our Mission
To accept, pasteurize and dispense donor human milk by physician prescription primarily to premature and ill infants.

Our Vision
The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin will be a leader in advancing the use of donor human milk to improve the quality of human life.