Along with talking, reading and singing to your little one, making sure they get proper nutrition early on also plays a big role in their cognitive and physical development.
Breast milk contains antibodies, enzymes, and nutrients that build immunity and protect against illnesses and is a vital nutrient for babies. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that donor milk is an available resource to vulnerable and premature babies when their mothers cannot provide enough milk.
According to the UC Health Milk Bank, pasteurized donor human milk provides a variety of health benefits:
- Supports baby’s brain development and growth
- Contains healthy antibodies that boosts baby’s immunity
- Maintains most of the important properties of breast milk even when pasteurized
- Helps protect baby’s intestines from a life-threating disease called Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Serve as a bridge to breastfeeding when there’s a delay in mother’s milk coming in or another need for supplementation
Check out UC Health Milk Bank’s website for more information, and below for additional resources:
- 2025 San Diego County Breastfeeding Resource Guide: A County resource that provides information on breastfeeding helplines, providers of lactation services, hospital breastfeeding services, general resources, ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) services and WIC offices.
- Support groups: There are free or fee-based groups throughout the County where moms can come together to offer support and share experiences with one another.
- WIC Support: WIC has a variety of services and support individuals who are pregnant, considering breastfeeding or breastfeeding.