I just want to share some good news with you.  I just read my email and got some wonderful news.  I think most all of my friends are sleeping here in Minnesota, but I think there might be some people on Lactnet that might enjoy this. 
 
I just heard that our head of neonatalogy has agreed to start the process to develop a milk bank at our hospital.  I know that this is just the first step, but it means so much to me that someone else is willing to make a stand that might be unpopular to some of his peers. 
 
In the past when my co-workers and I would listen to multidisciplinary rounds, we would wonder how different the outcomes of all the babies would be if they all got breastmilk.  We have a high rate of initiation of pumping in our NICU mothers and the babies that don't get breastmilk have so many more complications.
 
We also see that the mothers that faithfully do kangaroo cares with their infants have better breastfeeding outcomes and better state control.  Staff are finally starting to see and understand this.
 
I attended the milk banking convention in Fort Worth last fall and was truly impressed with speakers and the others attending the workshop.
It was even more impressive than the ILCA convention.  I felt like I was part of a group of people that were on a mission and so willing to help new people along.  When I returned home, I told my supervisor that my 5 year goal was to have a milk bank at our hospital.
 
It feels like the stars have come into alignment.  I'm amazed and grateful.  Now on to the hard work.  Thanks for listening, Rachel Wahl   
       
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