First community breast milk bank starts up in Colorado Springs

A first of its kind in Colorado Springs targets moms and babies in Southern Colorado. We’re talking about a community breast milk bank.

For many families, the breast milk they get at Enso Prenatal can be the difference between life or death, and donations are saving lives.

Jaime Pascual knows firsthand what it takes to be a mom and she knows the pressure of having to produce enough breast milk to keep her baby, Gwendolyn, fed.

“My story is kind of unique,” Pascual said.

Pascual says she’s used a donor’s breast milk at least twice since her daughter was born seven weeks ago. She first sought out help when her baby began losing a lot of weight.

“It was scary and it was very unhealthy for her and I wanted to keep breastfeeding but I wasn’t sure what to do,” Pascual said.

After research, she learned Denver was the nearest place where she could get milk from a donor, but not anymore, thanks to Enso Prenatal.

“To have this so easily accessible for the community just jazzes us to no end, it’s great,” said Mary Enger, a nurse and lactation consultant.

All the milk is kept in a freezer and it can last several months.

“Inside, we keep the little jars of milk that are frozen,” Enger said.

Each bottle is processed in Denver for safety before it arrives in Colorado Springs. In the first month of being open, Enso Prenatal has gone through 35 bottles helping several families in Southern Colorado.

“I kinda look back and kinda laugh at it to think she had a weight problem,” Pascual said.

Now Pascual can put the stress behind her, making it easier for her to be a mom.

If you’d like to be a donor or are in need of breast milk, visit Enso Prenatal’s website.