Saerom Yoo

Statesman Journal

Sometimes, the life-saving drug is right inside of you. Not decades or years away, and not growing in a lab, but inside your breasts.

Yes, it's breast milk, and no, it's not an exaggeration.

Hospitals across the country, including Salem Hospital, have for years been treating the tiniest, most fragile humans with breast milk. Studies have shown that when given to babies who are smaller than 1,500 grams, or 3.3 pounds, breast milk can reduce the infants' risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis — a potentially fatal failure of intestines — by three or four times.

In short, neonatologist Dr. Sean Sweeney said, "Breast milk can help prevent death."

But because new mothers' ability to produce milk varies, the hospital has been receiving shipments of donor milk from Denver to help bridge the gap. Soon, however, the hospital will partner with the Portland-based Northwest Mothers Milk Bank to receive milk locally, as well as engage Mid-Valley moms to help replenish the supply.

The milk bank, which opened in July 2013, is the first in the Pacific Northwest and has a network of partners across Washington, Oregon and in Boise, Idaho.

So far, 23 hospitals receive donor milk, and soon, Salem Hospital will become the 24th. Salem also is set to be a donor drop site starting Thursday, May 22, meaning donor moms in the area can start contributing their milk closer to home.

Christine Steiner, an assistant nurse manager of Salem Hospital's Mother-Baby Unit, said she initiated the relationship with the Portland milk bank because it was looking to large hospitals to become drop sites.

Steiner also heads the hospital's lactation department and is a passionate believer of the power of breast milk. In her 33 years of nursing, caring for babies, she has seen babies die from necrotizing enterocolitis, she said.

Then when donor milk became a standard of care, she witnessed babies who would've died in the past survive.

"It's moms helping moms, saving babies' lives," Steiner said.

To become a donor, mothers must first go through health screening and a blood test with the milk bank. Once they are cleared, they can start donating milk to a drop site or the milk bank directly. Salem donors can drop off their milk at Salem Hospital by calling the lactation office.

The milk bank then pasteurizes the raw milk in batches, and tests samples for bacteria. Once the milk is confirmed to have zero bacteria, it can be distributed frozen to hospitals and outpatient clinics for babies who need it.

As of the end of April, 223 women have been screened to become donors, co-executive director Lesley Mondeaux said. Donors are asked to commit to donating at least 150 ounces of breast milk to help cover the costs of the screening, she said.

Only babies with doctors' prescriptions are eligible to receive donor milk, which cost $4.50 per ounce. In Oregon, donor milk generally isn't covered by insurance, but the milk bank has a charity care program designed to help low-income moms.

Besides aiding in the development of intestines, breast milk is also beneficial for the babies' immune system and brain development, Sweeney said.

For the tiniest babies, he said, "Breast milk is medicine as much as it is food."

syoo@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6673 or follow at Twitter.com/syoo.

How to become a breast milk donor

Call Northwest Mothers Milk Bank at (503) 469-0955.

Undergo blood work and health screening

Arrange with Salem Hospital at (503) 814-4539 to arrange drop-off (repeat)

More information:www.nwmmb.org