The Program

How it works, and who it serves

Plans to Breastfeed

Our program is a tool for mothers who want to provide breast milk to their baby or plan to breastfeed. An unexpected admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hinders, or can eliminate a mother's ability to immediately breast feed her baby as normal.
NICU babies often rely on nutrition through an IV (intravenous) line, or a feeding tube to get the calories they need to grow. In the meantime, NICU moms must work hard to establish and maintain their milk supply so they can fulfill their breastfeeding goals when baby is well enough to feed from the breast or a bottle.
The MOM Project does not pressure mothers into breastfeeding, we simply provide her the opportunity without jeopardizing other financial obligations.

Working With The NICU

Like many social support programs, The MOM Project relies on the Social Workers and Lactation Consultants working with families in the NICU. These important health care workers identify families that are in extreme financial need, and cannot otherwise afford a hospital grade breast pump rental, and refer them directly to our program. This ensures that our pumps are being rented to families in the greatest need, which helps us stretch our limited resources!

Our Rentals

After giving birth, every NICU mother is given a pumping kit for the  pumps at the hospital, and those commonly rented from pharmacies.
The MOM Project uses a different brand of pump from the hospital. It meets the strict standards we've set for hygiene, ease of use, and efficiency. These standards were created in collaboration with hospital  Lactation Consultants.
 We provide the attachments for our machines so families do not have to purchase any supplies to use our program.
Each kit includes a pump, the required accessories, an insulated cooler bag and ice pack so breast milk can travel safely from home to the hospital. The mother also receives a directory of breastfeeding clinics and assistance programs in Calgary for support outside the NICU.

Our Families

The MOM Project serves a variety of people from many different backgrounds. We have provided rentals to new immigrant families, parents from all over southern Alberta, single mothers, and families who are feeling the financial stress so common in today's economy.

Twins and triplets are more likely to spend time in the NICU, so many of our moms are pumping for two or more babies!

The majority of our moms use the program for 3+ months, and continue to breastfeed after ending their rental.

I would like to use this opportunity to say a big thank you. The program takes my worries away. My baby was preterm at 30 weeks, had no breast pump at the time because I had an emergency c-section. I needed a hospital standard pump because my baby had to stay in the NICU, I was told by a social worker that I could contact The MOM Project for a breast pump. It really is a life saver even after the 3 month stay at the NICU they still gave me an extra 2 months to use the pump. Thanks to you all for all you do.
-Grace

GET involved

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The Gift of a Blanket

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Friends of the MOM Project lovingly donate their time and talent through knitting and crocheting the baby blankets given to each family with their rental. 
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New NICU parents often feel isolated and their friends and family don't know whether to celebrate or be scared. The gift of this blanket reassures the family that the arrival of their little one is a happy occasion, and that they are cared for!

This is only a few of the beautiful blankets that have been made and blessed by members and friends of Calgary Community of Christ Congregation for the MOM Project.

The MOM Project was featured on the Project Zion Podcast

Click to listen in and learn all about how The MOM Project started, how we've grown and how we're bringing people together through this community service.

Big Dreams...

Thanks to the support of our community, The MOM Project now serves all FIVE Calgary area NICUs! It took us three years, lots of hard work, planning and the generosity of our supporters to make this possible!

There are many more families outside of the NICU that can benefit from The MOM Project, but we need more pumps and volunteers to make this happen. We also need to keep recruiting volunteers to sustain the service that we already offer. That's where people just like YOU can help!

You can donate to our FundRazr Campaign- Pumped for Preemies: Help Them Get the Breast Start to help us purchase more breast pumps for our program expansion!
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Get Involved

5 Hospitals Down
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More Families Need Help!