New Organization to Help Moms Feed Babies in NICU
A new organization, created by two young mothers inspired by the ‘Mitzvah for Rashi’ Campaign, will bring much-
Founders Sarah Eichler and Kayla Kramer became acquainted in Park Slope, where Sarah gives a breastfeeding class on 5th Avenue, just a couple blocks from Kayla’s Lullaby Baby Store. What inspired the two to found Yanuk was the recent campaign, “A Mitzvah for Rashi,” meant to honor Rashi Minkowitz, OBM, a young mother and Shlucha who passed away suddenly one month ago.
Kayla Kramer said “As a mom, I understand the benefits and strong maternal bond associated with breastfeeding. This is amplified when a new mother goes through a difficult time with her newborn confined to the NICU. I became aware of this need in Crown Heights when moms began contacting me asking for emergency breastfeeding supplies, most of which cannot be found at the local drugstore.”
Breastfeeding plays a vital role in getting these babies healthy and enabling them to be discharged sooner. But as NICU babies often have feeding issues – in addition to their mother not being with them 24/7 – and cannot breastfeed as a result, mothers need to find ways to keep up their milk supply.
Lactation consultant Sarah Eichler elaborated: “Everyday, families’ worlds are turned upside down when they receive the news that their little one requires a stay in the NICU. While breastfeeding is high on the priority list for many of these families, their voices go unheard. The NICU’s medical staff has a wealth of experience, knowledge and skill at keeping babies alive, yet are often not as well-versed in the benefits and urgency of commencing the breastfeeding.”
Sarah and Kayla teamed up to offer support, advice as well as short and long-term equipment lending to NICU mothers. Sarah notes that while NICU mothers were privy to hospital-grade pumps in the past, Affordable Care Act changes mean insurance companies are rarely offering rentals of hospital-grade pumps, which cost around $1,700. To help moms with this issue, Kayla has donated a pump to the organization for moms in need, and keeps other breast feeding supplies at ready in her Crown Heights home to meet the emergency needs of new mothers at a moment’s notice.
“The joy a mom can have by providing milk for her baby while they are separated from each other is priceless”, says Sarah. “By providing milk for their babies, moms are giving them something no one else can provide. We are fortunate to be able to make this nursing journey for moms with babies in the hospital easier, by offering them the information and tools they need to get through this time.”
Equipment lending and breastfeeding accessories are free to moms of babies in the NICU. Any payment received from mothers who choose to do so once their baby is home will be paid forward to the cost of the next mom in need. To get in touch with Yanuk, contact Sarah Eichler, IBCLC, LCCE at 718-753-6403, or Kayla Kramer at 718-612 1071 and her Facebook Page.
Rivkah Davis
Such a beautiful Mitzvah to do! I can understand because my son spent two months in the NICU and being able to give him milk while I was not there made me feel connected to him during his feeds! Just an awesome idea! Much Success!
friend
amazing! I personally know a Kayla who she helped whose baby was in the NICU for 3 weeks. what a beautiful organisation!
Rozee
As a very thankful recipient of the kindness of these two women- both seperatly as at the time they had not yet joined forces- I wanted to give a shout out of thanx. They really came to our families aide and helped us so much when our baby spent a month in the nicu- and this was before they officially created “yanuk”! I credit them and their immense support for the fact that bh five moths later I am still pumping for my baby who is unable to nurse:) thank you am yaashar koach!
Woow!
what a wonderful idea! I know Sarah Eichler She is a very very good lactation consultant
C.R.
This article touched my heart. Beautiful to see how people are helping each other in crown heights. I personally had a baby who had to stay in the nicu for 2 weeks and I really didn’t know what I needed or where to turn to. It was a very difficult time for us.
Sarah and Kayla – I’m inspired!
Kol Hakovod
So beautiful that they’re using their profession and expertise for a mitzvah…
Wow!
I’m just amazed to see how these busy working moms that still find the time and make the effort to still help people in ways they can.
I love the pay it forward idea to help sustain the organization and that it doesnt require fundraising from cash strapped crown heights.
amazing kayla
Kayla you still seem to somehow surprise me with all the people you help with such a warm hart!
A proud friend of Kayla's
I’m amazed at how you manage to do it all and go out of your way to help others
wishing you much hatzlocha
Proud of my cousin Kayla
Kayla and Sarah, I am impressed but not at all surprised. Leave it up to you to figure out how to really make a difference.
From your red-wigged cousin. :)
from a lemieux neighbor
yes not surprising, kayla, like mother like daughter!! way to go, kayla!! kolhakovod to both of you and much hatzlocho, hopefully you will be bored and not have customers!!
wow
really beautiful tizku lemitzvos!!!
Terrific project
So happy to see this wonderful project has been established! It’s very heartwarming, especially in memory of the inimitable Rashi z”l. Much hatzlacha to Sarah and Kayla, and thank you for your chessed. I’m a Bubby and am glad to see these beautiful young women stepping up to the plate with great sensitivity and providing for the needs of the community. Kol hakavod to you and your generation!
Gordon T
I’ve worked with Kayla in the past and she has so impressed me with her drive, ingineuity and intergrity. I wish her and Sara much success on this beautiful and needed organization.
Lechaim!
Omg!!!
So beautiful!!! Brought me to tears
Very needed!
This is important not only for a situation where a baby is in the NICU, but also in the “stepdown” unit, where lots of jaundiced babies go for a few days.
After having my first baby 12 years ago, as soon as I was to be discharged from the hospital, I found out that the hospital wanted to keep the baby in the stepdown unit until the bilirubin levels became more normal.
Here I was, a kimpatur, and I moved into the waiting room shared by the NICU and the stepdown unit, where I literally lived for the next 3 days, including a Shabbos, just so that I could breastfeed my new baby as often as possible. This was important not only for the value of breastfeeding alone, but also the fact that the more the baby drank, the quicker the jaundice would subside.
Yet the doc (who headed the NICU. where he undoubtedly saved many lives, and who headed the stepdown unit) preferred that the baby not spend “so much time out of the light box” while breastfeeding! I told him to duke it out with the hospital lactation consultant, who was advising me to breastfeed that baby as much as possible, round the clock!
B”H the bris was on time, and even though I was a wreck for not getting optimal postpartum care during those days sleeping and living in that hospital waiting room, it was still worth it in the long run.