The "Frankenstorm"

 

    Here on the east coast, we are familiar with high winds, flooding, and power outages. The local stores have displays filled with flashlights, batteries, and bottled water; locals are out in their yards, putting away deck furniture and potential projectiles. However, as a lactation consultant, my thoughts go to those moms who are pumping and storing breast milk. This article, from the Florida Keys, has great tips on safely using and storing breastmilk during a power outage. If your baby is hospitalized, ask the hospital staff for their preferred guidelines.

      Now, a story: In 2005, I was pumping exclusively for my preemie who was in a hospital NICU two hours away. A high wind came through the area (the "Rogue Storm of 2005") without warning and winds gusted up to 100 miles an hour. We lost power for a few days and I was desperate to find a way to use my hospital grade electric pump. I asked around, and found a neighbor who had a generator. I went over to her house and found many neighbors (male and female) sitting around her kitchen table enjoying coffee. They pointed to the one outlet in the middle of the kitchen and said - "There you go!". I put aside modesty, and started to set up. I don't think they really realized what I was going to do because as soon as those flanges came out the husband jumped up and said, "I think there's another outlet in the garage". I would have pumped in the kitchen, but the garage was fine and most importantly, I was able to save that "liquid gold" (in a cooler) for my baby.