(Sharing original article written by Stephen Wall, published The Press Enterprise e-edition, August 8, 2017, with some additions by California Breastfeeding Coalition staff)

While dropping off her frozen breast milk, Marissa Cruz, 26, of Mira Loma, breast feeds her two-month-old son Marcus Mottesheard as his two-year-old brother, Nolan Mottesheard, during a breast milk drive at Corona Regional Medical Center in Corona on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Moms from the area are donating their breast milk, which is healthier than formula and especially important for premature and critically ill babies. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Marissa Cruz was producing more breast milk than she knew what to do with.

So the 26-year-old Jurupa Valley resident decided to give back Tuesday, Aug. 8. She donated about 250 ounces of her extra supply at a breast milk drive at Corona Regional Medical Center.

“Not everybody has the opportunity to breastfeed the way I’ve been blessed to do with my kids,” said Cruz, a mother of four who took turns breastfeeding her 2-month-old and 2-year-old after dropping off her surplus. “It’s the best thing for them.”

Moms with their babies in tow brought in storage bags with at least 50 ounces of frozen milk. Donors have their blood tested at a later time to ensure they have no communicable diseases before the milk can be given to another infant.

Mothers’ Milk Bank, a San Jose-based nonprofit group, collected the milk before sending it up north. The milk is stored and pasteurized to remove viruses and bacteria that may cause illnesses. It’s then distributed to hospitals, which supply it to premature babies in neonatal intensive care units in California and 12 other states. Donated milk that can’t be ingested is given to universities for research.

Eva Rayborne, of Corona, breast feeds her 2-month-old son Lincoln, during a breast milk drive at Corona Regional Medical Center in Corona on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Moms from the area are donating their breast milk, which is healthier than formula and especially important for premature and critically ill babies. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Organizers of the event, held to coincide with National Breastfeeding Month in August, received donations totaling about 2,000 ounces, said Leah Carig, donor coordinator for the milk bank. One-fourth of an ounce is enough for one meal. Babies average eight to 12 meals a day, Carig said.

Nationally, eight in 10 mothers begin breastfeeding their babies at birth, but only about half are still doing so at six months and less than a third at one year, according to a 2016 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many mothers need community support to overcome challenges of breastfeeding after they leave the hospital or return to work, event organizers said.

Some mothers have difficulty breastfeeding because of physical ailments, surgery or chronic illnesses. Others use formula out of convenience or because they’re not aware of its health benefits, said Diane Mejia, a lactation consultant and registered nurse at Corona Regional.

“Formula has been ingrained in their mind that it is an acceptable form of feeding their babies,” Mejia said. “We want to offer alternatives.”

Breast milk has nutrients and antibodies that formula can’t provide, she said. The protein in breast milk boosts the immune system, helps with brain development and reduces the risk of diseases that can be fatal to premature babies, Mejia said.

Leah Carig, Mother’s Milk Bank donor coordinator, collects breast milk dropped off by local moms during a breast milk drive at Corona Regional Medical Center in Corona on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Moms from the area are donating their breast milk, which is healthier than formula and especially important for premature and critically ill babies. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Many women who have C-sections need donated breast milk because they can’t produce enough of their own milk in the initial days after delivery, Carig said.

Donated milk is also important for infants who can’t ingest formula due to pain, gastric problems and allergic reactions. For some parents who adopt ill and premature babies from drug-addicted mothers, donated breast milk will help them gain weight and get the narcotics out of their system, Carig said.

Carmen Esposito, a 28-year-old Corona resident with a 4-month-old son and a member of a breastfeeding support group at the hospital, was moved to share her extra supply after hearing stories from other mothers unable to breast feed.

“Do what you can to help them have the best start in life,” Esposito said.

Carmen Esposito, 28, of Corona, drops off 200 oz of her frozen breast milk, during a breast milk drive at Corona Regional Medical Center in Corona on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Moms from the area are donating their breast milk, which is healthier than formula and especially important for premature and critically ill babies. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

For any questions about this event, please contact:
Diane Mejia MSN, IBCLC
dianemejia08@gmail.com