NICU Awareness Month

By: Amy Painter, Executive Director of Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee

Each September, we pause to recognize NICU Awareness Month, a time to honor the tiniest patients, their families, and the incredible medical teams who care for them. For me, this month carries deep meaning—not only because of my work at Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee, but also because of an experience that shaped the way I see and support NICU families today.

In January 2023, I found myself flying to Austin, Texas, to support a dear friend whose baby was born at just 32 weeks and was in the NICU there. With her husband needing to travel back home to Tennessee, I was grateful to be able to step in during a time of uncertainty and waiting along with another close friend of ours.

I am the mother of two daughters, both born full-term and healthy, despite having two high-risk pregnancies. For that, I am endlessly grateful. Because of this, I will never fully understand what it feels like to live day after day in a NICU, watching your child fight for each ounce of growth and strength. But those days in Austin gave me a closer look at that reality—if only for a brief time.

I remember counting every precious milliliter of milk, tracking weigh-ins, and watching the calendar move far too slowly as the goal of discharge felt like it was forever out of reach. I also remember the little victories and firsts that I got to be a part of like my friend's daughter's first bath, wearing clothes for the first time and those first feeds. My admiration for the medical staff grew tremendously. From the doctors and nurses who brought skill and compassion into each moment, to the security guard who ensured safe transport when my friend’s baby needed to be flown by helicopter to a Level IV NICU—I saw firsthand the village it takes to care for fragile newborns.

I will never forget the sight of mothers making their way down hospital hallways, carrying the tiniest syringes of colostrum for their babies. Each one was an act of love and hope, and I found myself applauding them. Their determination, in the face of fear and exhaustion, left a lasting mark on me.

Those days in the NICU were difficult and scary for my friends, but I am so grateful to them for that experience. Not only was I able to be there for them, but my time in the NICU gave me perspective I could not have gained otherwise. Now, when I step into a NICU, I carry that experience with me. I am able to connect more deeply with families, understanding just a little better the mixture of hope, fear, and endurance that defines their journey.

At Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee, our mission is to provide safe, pasteurized donor human milk to fragile infants. Each ounce of milk represents not just nourishment, but comfort, healing, and the dedication of a community that surrounds these tiny fighters with love.

This month, and every month, I honor NICU families, medical professionals, and milk donors. You inspire me daily, and you remind me why the work we do matters so much.

If you feel moved to make a difference, I invite you to join us. Whether by becoming a milk donor or supporting our mission with a financial contribution, your generosity ensures that we can continue to provide lifesaving nutrition to Tennessee’s most vulnerable babies. Together, we can give NICU families hope and strength for the journey ahead.

Learn more at milkbanktn.org.