BUCYRUS – The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank celebrated the opening of a new milk drop at the Crawford County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office earlier this month.

The milk bank, located at 1520 Isaac Beal Road in Bucyrus, is one of just 27 milk banks in North America – 24 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, outreach coordinator and lactation consultant at the milk bank. “Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it. In June 2019 alone we distributed nearly 32,000 ounces of milk all over the country – just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days, so every little bit helps.”

According to a press release, the milk bank has a freezer, where the donated human milk is stored until shipped to the milk bank in Columbus. 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. 

The milk bank is projecting it will distribute 300,000 ounces to hospitals and babies this year. The pasteurized milk is distributed throughout North America.

“Our agency is fully vested in providing programs that improve the quality of life for the Crawford County community,” said Kate Siefert, Health Commissioner for Crawford County Public Health. “Most breast milk donations are used to help fragile, premature infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units.  Donated breast milk is a way to help the littlest patients receive the health benefits of human milk, even if it doesn’t come from their own mothers.”

Before the depot opened, area donors would have to store the milk and then ship it themselves. Now, they can drop it off and have it sent in one easy step.

“If you are a healthy mom and have more breast milk than your baby needs, donating it to a milk bank is a wonderful gift for preterm and critically ill babies,” said Siefert.  “When premature babies cannot receive their own mothers’ milk, pasteurized donor milk from a milk bank is the next best solution.”

The milk bank relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies.

Interested donors are encouraged to email milkbank@ohiohealth.com or call (614) 566.0630 to arrange a screening phone interview.

To become a volunteer breast milk donor, mothers must take part in the screening process. This is done 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 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 here.