Studies show that infants benefit greatly from breast milk, especially those who are premature, ill, or have life-threatening conditions. Yet many mothers of ill and premature infants are unable to provide enough of their own breast milk for their babies. While breast milk is recommended for all babies, premature infants have increased nutritional needs; especially those weighing 2 pounds 12 ounces or less at birth.

These critically ill premature infants require more protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals than what can be provided by breast milk alone.1 The volume of breast milk that would be required to meet these infants' nutritional needs would be more than the infants could consume. As a result, many neonatologists add human milk fortifier (HMF) to their feedings. Prolact+ H2MF is the only HMF made from 100% human milk. Until Prolact+ H2MF was introduced, the only option was HMF made from cow's milk.

Since some mothers of preemies have trouble supplying enough of their own breast milk to their babies, they sometimes rely on breast milk donations from healthy, lactating women who have a surplus of their own milk .

While donating breast milk to a nonprofit is always an option if you have a surplus of breast milk, an alternative option is to donate your breast milk through Helping Hands Milk Bank (Helping Hands), which is operated by Prolacta Bioscience. The milk donated through Helping Hands is used to make Prolact+ H2MF which is the only HMF made exclusively from 100% human breast milk for critically ill premature infants born weighing less than 1250 grams.

By donating through Helping Hands, your breast milk donation will also help in the fight against breast cancer. For every ounce of qualified breast milk that is donated through the Helping Hands Milk Bank, Prolacta donates $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. To date, Helping Hands breast milk donors have generated over $37,000 for the philanthropic organization.

"I have been completely blessed with an abundance of breast milk supply, " said Michelle, a recent donor. "I love knowing that my gift to produce breast milk not only benefitted my two children, but premature babies are now thriving because of it! It is empowering to know that for every ounce of milk I donated, one dollar went to the Susan G. Komen foundation to support breast cancer patients like my mother."

Helping Hands Milk Bank covers all expenses associated with the donation process, including extensive donor screening; blood and DNA testing, storing the milk, shipping, processing and pasteurization.

"I researched a few banks online. Helping Hands Milk, which had a wonderful "feel" to it," said donor Deena. "They were also very thorough in their screening process which is important to me as I know the milk was handled and delivered with care and professionalism. The staff members at Helping Hands were also very prompt in getting back to me when I had questions. Overall, they made donating very easy and rewarding."

For information on becoming a breast milk donor, contact us via our website at http://www.helpinghandsbank.com/contact.php.

1 Kleinman R, ed. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:94.

www.helpinghandsbank.com


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