Abstract
Establishment of a human milk supply is the sine qua non for the development of a Human Milk Bank. In response to a plea for donors, 568 lactating mothers volunteered to donate milk to the NSUH Human Milk Bank without financial recompense. Of the 568 volunteers, 309 failed to complete the medical screening process; 97 never submitted the medical forms; and 4 completed the medical screening process but were dropped for medical reasons, leaving 158 qualified donors. Of the 158, 81 actually donated milk. All were white; 52% were between 26-30 years of age; 35% were working mothers of which 41% were registered nurses. Seventy-five of the 81 donors donated 2,813 ounces of milk (37%) while 6 donated 4,765 ounces or 63% of the total milk received! The longest time a donor supplied milk was 10 months. By the end of the first 10 months, 59 of the 81 donors had abandoned the effort, for a drop-out rate of 73% in 10 months. The milk of human kindness is hard to find and depends upon the generosity of a few dedicated individuals.
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Sia, C., Palsgraf, J., Harper, R. et al. 95 HOW FLOWS THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS?. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 455 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00104
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00104