Mothers’ Milk Bank to open new milk drop at Clinton County WIC
The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank is celebrating the grand opening of a new milk drop location at the Clinton County Health District WIC, in Wilmington, on Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m., according to a news release. The new milk drop site, located at 111 S. Nelson Ave. Suite 1, will house a freezer to store donated human milk, which will then be transferred to the milk bank in Whitehall at no cost to the donor.
The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), provides pasteurized human milk to those infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies. It is one of just 33 milk banks in North America – 30 in the United States and three in Canada.
“We are thrilled to be opening this new milk drop to make donating even easier,” said Chris Smith, RN, IBCLC, outreach coordinator and lactation consultant at the milk bank. “With this new milk drop, approved donors around Clinton County have a convenient location to drop off their donated milk. Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it. In 2023 alone, we distributed over 460,000 ounces of milk in 11 states – that’s 3,593 gallons. Just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days, so every little bit helps.”
The Wilmington site marks the 31st OhioHealth milk drop location in Ohio. The donated milk is distributed throughout North America to babies in need.
“We are so proud and very excited to be part of the opening of the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Drop at the Clinton County Health District,” said WIC Director Renee Quallen BSN, IBCLC. “Our Clinton County Health District staff know the importance of human milk in promoting the optimal health and growth of babies. Becoming a Milk Drop is a great fit with our program. We are honored to be part of the network that gets safe and screened human milk to our most vulnerable infants here in Ohio and across the country. We will utilize the Ultracold Freezer that was donated to the Health District in February of 2021 by the Clinton County Commissioners. At that time ultracold storage was required for safe storage of the Pfizer brand COVID Vaccine. Currently, that type of specialized storage is no longer needed, and we are thankful to be able to continue to use this valuable resource to improve the health of our community. This freezer will allow safe storage until the milk can be transported to Columbus for pasteurization and distribution.”
Monica Wood, director of administration at the health district, also shared her excitement, “We have a unique opportunity to provide a resource collection site that is in support of babies that are medically fragile through this partnership with the Mother’s Milk Bank.”
The milk bank, which is located in the OhioHealth Eastside Health Center in Columbus, relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies. Interested donors are encouraged to email [emailprotected] or call (614)-566-0630 to arrange a screening phone interview.
To become a human milk donor, mothers must take part in a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk. This process includes a phone screening to verify eligibility, completion of a medical and lifestyle history review, a signed medical release from the donor and physician, and consent to receive a blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis. The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen, and distributed by physician’s prescription.
Benefits of Breast Milk
Infants benefit greatly from human milk, especially those who are premature, ill, or have life-threatening conditions. Human milk is the ultimate source of nutrients and immune protection for infants. Babies benefit from the active growth hormones, developmental enzymes, infection fighting and immunological factors found in human milk. Research shows that human milk helps pre-term infants:
● Reach full feeds sooner and need fewer IVs
● Mature their intestines faster
● Spend fewer days in the hospital
● Reduce risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (a potentially fatal bowel infection)
● Reduce risk of sepsis (blood infection) and fewer infections
● Experience long-term IQ advantages over formula-fed infants
● Be healthier as older children and adults
More information about the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, including a video, may be found at https://www.ohiohealth.com/locations/womens-health/mothers-milk-bank/
FAQs
Human breast milk donated to milk banks is pasteurized to kill off harmful bacteria and other organisms. Donor milk used in NICUs is generally shelf-stable breast milk, which is sterilized before being distributed and given to babies.
How do I access my breast milk donation? ›
Parents usually get donor breast milk through:
- milk banks — usually connected to a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- informal networks on social media.
The goal of the MOM Initiative is to improve newborn outcomes by applying evidence-based interventions to increase the use of mother's own milk for very low birth weight (VLBW) babies at highest risk (<1500 grams at birth).
What is the difference between mother's milk and donor milk? ›
Due to the pasteurization, processing, and lactation stage of donors, DHM does not contain the same nutritional, immunologic, and microbial components as MOM.
How much does breastmilk sell for? ›
The average cost is $3-$5 per ounce, and babies can consume between 32 and 48 ounces of milk per day. In states where neither Medicaid nor commercial insurance covers donor milk, families sometimes buy unregulated breast milk online or receive donated milk from friends or family because it can be less expensive.
What does your body do with unused breast milk? ›
Where does the milk go if I don't pump it out? The milk in your breasts, if not removed, will gradually reabsorb and diminish.
What do they test for when you donate breast milk? ›
Blood testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C, HTLV, and syphilis. The milk bank will send you a blood kit for you to take to a local lab to have your blood drawn. It is then sent to the Memorial Blood Center, where the blood will be analyzed and the results sent to the milk bank. We will contact you regarding the results.
How do I sell my extra breast milk? ›
Apply for a milk bank membership.
It's generally free to join a milk bank, though some locations do require you donate your first 100 ounces of milk to defray costs before they start paying you. You can apply to almost any milk bank online.
What are the rules for donor breast milk? ›
“The milk collected at home and destined to be donated has to remain at room temperature for the shortest possible time (A*). After each single collection of milk, always in a sterile container, the milk container must be sealed and cooled immediately under running water (A*).”
How to make money donating breast milk? ›
Commercial milk banks cover testing and shipping costs too, and some pay or donate money on your behalf. For example, Tiny Treasures Milk Bank compensates milk donors with $1 per ounce of breastmilk and Helping Hands Milk Bank contributes $1 per ounce of donated milk to the Susan G. Komen foundation.
The Share the Drop app matches breast milk donors to recipients while helping families build a network of supply and support. Donate breast milk or find a breast milk donor.
What is milk stork program? ›
Milk Stork is a breast-milk delivery service for business traveling moms, and provides a no-fuss solution that refrigerates, express ships and helps deliver breast milk home to your baby. Milk Stork provides multiple easy-to-use options to choose from, so you can pick what fits your nursing and travel schedules best.
Who should not donate milk? ›
You cannot donate milk if you are taking certain medications regularly, drink alcohol, smoke or take drugs. You will also not be able to donate if you have certain chronic or infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C, among others.
How does milk donation work? ›
Upon donation, it is screened, pooled, and tested so that it can be dispensed to hospitals and outpatient families for use by infants in need. All donor mothers require screening and approval, and all donor milk is logged and monitored. Pasteurization eliminates harmful bacteria or other potential infecting organisms.
Which milk is closest to mother's milk? ›
One of the milks recognized for being the most similar to breastfeeding is goat milk. While goat milk has a high fat content, it shouldn't be used to feed infants since it lacks folic acid and vitamin B12, both of which are essential for the child's growth and development.
What are the disadvantages of donor breast milk? ›
Risks for the baby include exposure to infectious diseases, including HIV, to chemical contaminants, such as some illegal drugs, and to a limited number of prescription drugs that might be in the human milk, if the donor has not been adequately screened.
What can I do with unwanted breast milk? ›
If you produce too much breast milk you may want to consider donating the excess milk. Donated milk can be given to neonatal babies or to other mothers who are establishing their own milk supply or unable to provide their own milk to their babies due to illness or separation.
Can a baby drink someone else's breast milk? ›
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food and Drug Administration both discourage casual sharing, pointing to the potential for contamination, as well as the chance that parents with the best of intentions will unwittingly expose their babies to harmful medications or drugs.
What do milk banks do with milk? ›
Milk banks are nonprofits that collect donations from nursing mothers who are producing more breast milk than their babies need. They screen, process, pasteurize, store, and distribute the donor milk, primarily for the care of premature infants.
