Drops of Life

A year and a half after its opening the Bank of maternal milk in Pinar del Rio shows encouraging results that confirm the validity of the experience.

RONALD SUÁREZ RIVAS

PINAR DEL RÍO .- Mom Dianoris dreams everyday with the opportunity to breast feed her baby, but right now this is not possible. The arrival of her baby much before its time with only 29 weeks and weighing 1250 grams has forced the doctors to keep it in a special care cubicle, isolated from its family, and with permanent ventilation.

(Photo caption) IN 2012, 92 LITTLE ONES WERE FED THANKS TO THIS VALUABLE INITIATIVE

However, this fact has not prevented Darel Jesús Acosta Castillo from receiving maternal milk, the most complete foodstuff known which in this baby’s case is indispensable for him to gain weight and strength.  

Thanks to the Bank that operates for more than a year and a half now at the Hospital Abel Santamaría -the main health care institution in Vueltabajo where most of the child births take place in the province- the feeding of babies who for any reason cannot be directly breast fed by their mothers is no longer a problem. 

Last year, 92 little ones were fed thanks to this valuable initiative. Among these 28 were born below minimum weight (less than 1500 grams); three had to undergo neonatal surgery, and seven were admitted in the Pediatric center

For Dr. Liliana Rivera, Director of the Bank, this is a very positive experience. “Maternal milk immunizes the baby against diseases, prevents respiratory and digestive infections, and there are studies that show it prevents the appearance of conditions such as diabetes and contributes to the development of intelligence. But unfortunately there are babies who cannot get it from their mothers.”

MATERNAL MILK IMMUNIZES THE BABY AGAINST DISEASES AND PREVENTS INFECTIONS (PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR)

undeniable benefits

Located within the maternity area of the hospital, the Bank has an extraction ward, another for processing where the milk is pasteurized, another for storage and one for the microbiological analysis of this important food.

“This allows us to know the content of calories in each sample before it is given to the baby; something quite significant because a newborn of 3000 grams does not have the same caloric needs of a 1500 gram baby,” explains Dr. Noemí Cabrera, a specialist in the neonatology service who is certain that thanks to this Bank they were able to save the lives of several premature babies.

 “The benefits are undeniable. It is not the only factor, but adequate feeding is paramount. It makes the babies develop better and their weight increase is faster.” 

PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE STRESS CAUSED BY THE AILMENTS OF HER LITTLE BABY GIRL, YONDRA HAS NO MILK. HOWEVER, WITH THE HELP OF THE BANK HER BABY HAS BEEN PROPERLY FED.

 “We have had babies weighing only 900 grams who have survived and this is indeed evidence of health care excellence,” says Noemi.

 OPENING UP TO THE COMMUNITY

Seeing these results, since last November the Hospital has worked to increase the collection of milk. “Until then, the Bank had been supplied through the cooperation of the mothers during their stay in the Hospital (191 mothers in 2012), but the demand has grown considerably.

“So we decided to request the support of the mothers in the community, whose children are exclusively breast fed, and the answer has been very positive,” says Dr. Liliana.

 “We now have a significant group of donors in the municipality of Pinar del Río, and in other territories namely Consolación del Sur, San Luis, and San Juan y Martínez.”

The number of donors fluctuates between 120 and 140 women who after feeding their babies give the remaining milk to the Bank.

 “The process of winning donors is carried out together with the family doctors,” explains Doraima Cruz who is in charge of coordinating this activity in a Polyclinic of the capital city in Pinar del Rio.

 “Each Mom is taught the technique of extraction (milking) and is given a flask for the storage of milk which she must keep in the freezer for collection once a week.”

The amount varies according to the possibilities of each person. There are those who supply 90 mililiters a week and others who provide more than 700 ml. like Emily Ravelo or Dayana Reyes.

 “When I learned that donating my surplus milk could help interned babies I agreed to collaborate,” says Alida Carballo.

Five months after joining the experience, this young mother confesses that although she was lucky enough to give birth to a healthy and happy baby girl “one cannot stop thinking that it could have been my baby who could have needed this help. This is why I believe that every person who can contribute to this initiative should do so.”

This is undoubtedly, an altruistic action that contributes to the survival of babies like Yulia Lóriga. She had complications, first with pneumonia, and later with intolerance to industrial maternal milk. The first 70 days of this little baby girl have been extremely hard. However, her doctor Dr. Sergio Piloña, feels optimistic.

 “These last 20 days, since we started feeding her with milk from the Bank, Yulia has gained more than 800 grams.”

For the service, the treatment has represented the challenge of collecting just for her around a liter of milk daily. But the effort has been worth it. Weighing now 3250 grams the little baby is out of danger.

In a cubicle in Ward M-E where she has been since she gave birth in early December, Yoandra Garcia, Yulia’s Mom, tells us about all the complications they had to face. She is at ease now that she knows the worst is over. Next to her, fragile and minute Yulia listens for the first time to the story of her first weeks in this world, a story marked by the dedication of the doctors and nurses and the love of anonymous women who helped feed her when her Mom could not.