The Maine State legislature will be hearing testimony about a bill which is of particular interest to me. Perhaps it is for you, too. The bill is LD 85: MaineCare Coverage for Donor Human Milk. Last year, it was unanimously approved.
However, the State House closed because of COVID and, in the meantime, there was an election. So we are addressing this again for 2021. If (or when) this bill is passed, it would direct MaineCare to cover the cost of Donor Human Milk for all their clients with new babies.
On February 11, 2021, I’ll present my brief testimony. The following explains one important reason why I support MaineCare coverage for Donor Human Milk.
• All of us are acutely aware of our immune systems in this pandemic year. Fundamental to our well-being is an impermeable gut membrane. This acts as barrier that prevents antigens (bacteria, toxins, etc.) from entering our system. Hopefully, we have that as an adult.
However, a newborn, preterm or full term, does not. The newborn gut membrane is immature and slightly more porous. This means that antigens can get through the membrane, into the blood stream and cause inflammation and infection, including Necrotizing Entrocolitis (N.E.C). Every newborn is vulnerable.
However, Nature has planned that the first thing that goes into a baby’s gut is human breast milk. The breast milk coats the lining of the gut and provides protection.
1. Human milk is lower in Ph than formula. Being more acidic, it is less conducive to bacterial growth. Formula changes the Ph level and disrupts the normal microbiota of the infant’s gut.
2. Human milk is a live food that contains active macrophages. These surround, ‘eat up’ and expel toxins from the baby’s system.
3. Human milk contains growth factors that promote the development of a healthy gut membrane.
By six months, the gut membrane is mature. By six months, a baby is sitting up, eating other foods and putting many things in their mouth. By then, the immune system can better handle that.
Babies can get calories, fats, protein and carbohydrates. Still, they have a profound need for the finely tuned calibration of minerals, essential fatty acids, growth factors and importantly, the anti-infective properties of human milk.
Science has made remarkable advancements in neonatal care. However, there is no substitute for breast milk. It is always important that infants absorb excellent nutrition from the very start. That’s why I support Donor Human Milk for every baby that needs it.
• More about the infant gut and breast milk.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-72635-x
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4681407/
http://flca.info/HTMLobj-150/Just_one.pdf
Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Fifth Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Karen Wambach, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FILCA and Jan Riordan, EdD, RN, IBCLC, FAAN.
Chapter Four: The Biological Specificity of Breastmilk.
• If you would like to add your testimony, you can submit written testimony through the link below. The committee is Health and Human Services, the sponsor is Representative Margaret Craven. https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
