Columbus, OH,
07
February
2020
|
15:00 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank Opens Milk Drop in Northeast Ohio

The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank is proud to celebrate the opening of a new milk drop at The Hearth Mother Lactation Services in North Canton, the first breast milk deposit site in Northeast Ohio.

A freezer at The Hearth Mother will store the donated human milk, which will then be transferred to the milk bank via FedEx at no cost to the donors.

The new location is OhioHealth’s ninth milk drop in Ohio, providing pasteurized breast milk to infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies.

“Last year, Mothers’ Milk Bank distributed nearly 385,000 ounces — about 3,000 gallons — of breast milk to babies in 14 states and Canada,” Chris Smith, RN, outreach coordinator and lactation consultant at the milk bank, told Canton Repository reporter Jessica Holbrook.

Breast milk contains a variety of nutrients and immune protection for vulnerable babies, especially those who are premature, ill, or have life-threatening conditions. Babies benefit from the active growth hormones, developmental enzymes, infection fighting and immunological factors found in human milk.

“If mom’s milk is not available, than donor milk is your second choice,” Smith said.

Mothers interested in becoming a human milk donor must undergo a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk, including an interview and lab work. The donated milk is then pasteurized, frozen and distributed by physician prescription to hospitals where it’s used in neonatal intensive care units to help feed babies who are premature or critically ill.

Breastfeeding women can drop off donated breast milk at 1303 West Maple Street in North Canton, inside Oasis Women’s Health. Interested donors are encouraged to email milkbank@ohiohealth.com or call (614) 566.0630 to arrange a screening phone interview prior to the event.

To learn more about the OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank and the new milk drop, click on the media logos below.