Editor's note: Melissa shared her journey with the attendees of Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas 9th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon earlier this year as a featured speaker.
Melissa Collett
Frisco, TX
When I got the exciting news that I was pregnant with twins, I didn’t give much thought to my babies needing special care. I was put on hospital bed rest at Plano Presbyterian Hospital when I was 28 weeks pregnant. The twins stayed put for 18 days, longer than the physician thought they would! They were born at 30 weeks and 4 days gestation. Things happened very quickly: my water broke at 11am and the twins were born at 1:13pm and 1:14pm! One of the forms we signed was to allow for donor milk from a milk bank if it was needed. A friend of mine had donated to Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas a few months before I went on bed rest, so I was familiar with Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas and with the benefits of human milk.
Jack was born weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces and Harper weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces. They were on donor milk for about a week until I was able to pump enough for them. Our family truly believes that having the nutrients from the pasteurized milk was a game changer: it helped set the foundation for their growth and health. Once my milk volume increased, I pumped every three hours around the clock because it was all I knew to do to help my babies. Jack was in the NICU for 54 days and Harper stayed for 74 days, past her actual due date due to some eating problems. She had severe reflux and was aspirating her food. After seeing a number of specialists, it was determined that she needed a thickened formula. Jack started having similar issues of choking while eating and was also put on thickened formula. I had a lot of breastmilk in my freezer. My body knew that I had two babies and that breastmilk was the only thing I could do to help them.
When I found out I couldn’t use the milk in the freezer, I knew I wanted to give it to families would need it. I donated five coolers full of milk to the NICU at Texas Health Plano Presbyterian Hospital, a drop off location for Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas. It was very emotional walking back into the NICU, but this time I was in the control of the situation. I had come full circle. I was donating for other families like us, who never would have thought that their babies would need special care. I was donating for Jack and Harper, who are now thriving because of the pasteurized donor milk they received while in the NICU. I was donating to give people comfort and peace of mind, to let them know that there are other people out there who are willing to help.
Melissa’s Breastfeeding Advice
I urge moms with a child in the NICU to pump. Leaving a baby in the NICU is very emotional – the doors closing behind you, knowing a stranger would be taking care of your child. By pumping and bringing milk in every day, I was still a part of the caregiving experience. It really helped me connect with Jack and Harper, even though we weren’t together.