Lexington mother donates more than 7,000 ounces of breast milk to OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank

A Lexington, Ohio mother has donated more than 7,000 ounces of breast milk to the OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank .

Alia Ross always knew she wanted to breastfeed her baby to help her grow and thrive.  Luckily, she had more than enough.

“Originally I started pumping so that I would have enough supply for Novalene for when I went back to work,” said Ross. “We ended up having to buy a freezer to be able to store it all and I was like, out of room.”

Ross learned through her lactation support group at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital that she could donate her breast milk. After her second drop off, she found out about a shortage.

“The call went out that there was a decreased number of donors, and an increased usage,” said Laura Allen, RN BSN, a certified lactation consultant at Mansfield Hospital.  “The donor milk itself, they typically store well, so we can give it to all babies, but what they typically do is if a shortage occurs, or there’ s a critical need, they start monitoring or just making sure that it goes to the most critical need babies.”

The call for donors went out in December, and Ross gladly answered it.

"I was like, when can I bring in another couple donations?" said Ross.

The donated breast milk shortage was worrisome enough given the fact the milk is crucial in helping micro-preemies and low birth babies.  But for Ross, this was also personal. She needed donated breast milk for her own daughter, Novalene, before her supply came in.

“Having that as a back up instead of formula was important to me in terms of establishing nutrition with her,” said Ross.

Since then, Ross has donated more than 7,000 ounces of breast milk to the OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank. 

According to Allen, one ounce of breast milk provides a meal to three premature babies. That means Ross has potentially helped feed more than 20,000 babies.

And it hasn't gone unnoticed.

“I think the biggest, most emotional moment for me was, a couple moms came up to me after the class and were like, ‘Thank you so much for donating, like, my baby was in the NICU and had to get the donated breast milk,'” said Ross. 

Ross's donations have been a huge help for local mothers in the Mansfield region, but also across the country.

According to Allen, Ross has been instrumental in helping the OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank recover from the breast milk shortage, and she has no plans on stopping any time soon.

“I actually have another freezer full that I need to get together and pack up  and then take it to donate,” said Ross.