Corpsman Provides Care to Newborn

For a baby born aboard hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) during Operation Unified Relief, there was brief uncertainty that the infant could be supplied the essential nutrients that her suffering mother couldn't supply, due to injuries sustained in the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the country of Haiti June 12.  One Sailor aboard Comfort took this as an opportunity to make a huge difference in a small life.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Jennifer Bovaird was still breast-feeding her 7-month old daughter when she got the call that there was a need on board Comfort for her specialty as a Microbiology lab technician. Bovaird jumped at the opportunity to help where her skill set was in demand.

"Of course to leave my daughter at home was gut wrenching, said Bovaird.  To be able to contribute something that no one else can contribute just due to circumstances it's a once in a life time opportunity,"

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Leaving her own daughter at home was hard, especially since she was still lactating.  She brought her breast pump with her to help relieve the pressure that comes from the milk supply.  After finding out that there were babies aboard Comfort that could benefit from having breast milk, Bovaird began pumping milk and storing it to ensure that there would be enough for the babies.  Supplying such a life essential nutrition was something that only she could provide on board Comfort.

A Haitian woman was brought aboard Comfort Thursday Jan.  21, after sustaining a pelvic fracture and a broken femur from the earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation of Haiti June12.   The woman delivered a healthy baby girl via Caesarean section (C-section) and was immediately rushed to the operating room for surgery.

Before entering surgery the mother named her daughter Esther. With the mother unable to produce milk for her own baby, and only a small supply of baby formula aboard doctors were worried that the formula would run out.

Bovaird provided milk for two babies aboard Comfort, of which both the mothers were unable to produce milk for their babies.

 "It was an instant feeling of love toward them when I met the babies.  Everyone here is on board to help, and to be able to make such a difference in a little life that is brand new to the world was just amazing," said Bovaird. "I don't really believe in coincidence this situation was meant to happen.  I felt very blessed to be able to nurse my own child because so many moms can't feed their own child and to be able to pump milk for two children who have survived an unbelievable circumstance was heartwarming."

Lt. Cmdr. Erika Beard-Irvine was part of the labor and delivery team that helped deliver baby Esther Thurs. afternoon said baby Esther weighed a healthy 4lbs 5 oz.

"We had to give her oxygen initially to get her going but she didn't require anything else," said Beard-Irvine.  "She is cute and crying and swatting at us."
Though baby Esther was born premature she is healthy, in stable condition and holding up well on her own.

"I feel like it's an honor to be here and be able to help out these people who through everything are unbelievably gracious and unbelievably pleasant to be around," said Bovaird.  "I believe that it's an honor to be here to help them and make a difference after such a catastrophic event."

Mother and baby are both in good condition and are spending some much awaited bonding time in the pediatrics unit aboard Comfort.