We live in a culture that accepts blood donation as a necessity. Local blood drives are frequent, and it is common for donors to line up to give a little bag of their lifesaving, life-changing blood.
Did you know, though, that breast milk donation is equally as important?
At our own Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), an average of 7,000 ounces of breast milk are used each year to give lifesaving nutrients to babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
NICU babies need the fat, proteins, and other helpful constituents contained in breast milk. However, because having baby at the breast is so vital to healthy milk production, mothers are often unable to produce the amount of breast milk needed to provide all of her baby’s nutritional needs while the baby is away from her in the NICU.
During this already difficult time, I can’t imagine the worry and concern of not producing enough (or any) milk to feed my already health-compromised newborn. In situations like these, we are grateful that EIRMC is a partner and depository for Mother’s Milk Bank, a non-profit organization based in Arvada, Colorado.
I recently had an opportunity to speak with Misty Nebeker, RN and Board Certified Lactation Consultant at EIRMC, who serves as the liaison between EIRMC and Mother’s Milk Bank. She shared with me JUST how crucial donated breast milk can be. While I’ve never had a baby in the NICU, I was touched by her passion for caring for these most fragile little ones and I am overwhelmed with gratitude that we have the ability (since 2015) to tap into the supplies of donated breast milk that Mother’s Milk Bank meticulously tests and formulates to save lives.
Similar to blood donation, Mother’s Milk Bank follows strict safety procedures and has the infrastructure to test all donated milk. Scientists are on staff to ensure that each individual baby is getting breast milk specially formulated to fit his or her needs. They even have the capabilities to slightly process the donated breast milk to create dairy-free, gluten-free, fat-free, or fatty milks, for example, to fit the individual needs of each baby. While the breast milk can be formulated to a baby’s needs, breast milk donation is key to providing these drops of gold.
In Idaho Falls, breast milk donation is as simple as can be. Of course, pumping is a superhero feat on its own; any breastfeeding or pumping mom knows the amount of work and sacrifice that goes into each drop. Fortunately, when it comes to breast milk donation, making the milk is the only hard part! Once the milk is made (?), a quick and free blood draw is the only necessary step preceding dropping off any and all frozen milk collected within the last year.
Donating milk is as easy as these three steps:
Step One: Call EIRMC’s breast milk donation center at (208) 529-7171 and let them know you’d like to donate. They’ll get you started and connected with Mother’s Milk Bank! You will be asked a few questions regarding your lifestyle and any medications you may be on. The only requirements are a regular, standard healthy diet. (Really, a normal diet is OK. Fast food, some caffeine, and even occasional alcohol use does not disqualify you as long as some guidelines are followed, which I’ll discuss later!)
Step Two: You will receive a blood draw kit in the mail. You can take that kit to a walk-in lab such as Qwest or the one inside EIRMC. This free blood draw will test for specific markers that could be dangerous for babies. This is not a health screen or a drug test.
Step Three: Once you receive notification that your test results are good, you are all set to start donating! You won’t have to be tested again and the milk drop off is easy. Simply package that milky goodness in breast milk bags (preferred) or tubes and drop off at the main desk in the NICU at EIRMC. It is recommended that you donate the milk already frozen and in a minimum quantity of 150 oz at a time. This ensures that the milk can be safely and efficiently shipped to Colorado within 72 hours where it will undergo testing and await its future need nationwide.
How simple is that? Phone call, free blood draw, drop off your liquid gold, and save lives!
There are very few people who would not qualify to donate milk. Some long-term medications such as heart medications may disqualify a donor. A normal and varied diet is exceptional because all of the flavors pass through the milk. It is common for moms to think we’re not “healthy enough” because we don’t eat just salads and protein all day long, but really, a varied, normal diet is great for milk donation! If you drink alcohol, simply don’t pump while you feel the effects of it. Generally, six hours are long enough for any alcohol to leave the breast milk within your body! See? Nearly everyone who can produce breast milk can also donate and save little baby lives!
While there isn’t a shortage of donated breast milk, all donations are used and appreciated. At EIRMC, the goal is to donate as much as they take from Mother’s Milk Bank. Their first year as a depository, EIRMC accepted around 7,000 oz and returned 7,000 oz via donations. During their second year, they were able to replenish the milk bank with 10,000 oz of donated breast milk!
Some years are busier than others at EIRMC. This year has been BUSY, with the NICU nearing its capacity of 26 babies almost consistently. Because EIRMC has the only Level III NICU in this region (including Wyoming and Montana), babies of all gestational ages, even those as young as 23 weeks gestational age, come to our facility. All babies 34 weeks and younger receive donor milk unless mom is producing enough!
Imagine being able to support a mom through this trying time by donating breast milk that is in your freezer or pumping a bit extra each time to help her bitty baby thrive.
Here at Idaho Falls Moms Blog, we want to see ALL babies, local and not, thrive and grow and succeed. We are grateful to be connected to such a wonderful hospital and an incredibly advanced milk bank such as Mother’s Milk Bank. Though it is not a local milk bank, it is providing the life-saving gold that is breast milk to local mamas and we are THANKFUL for that! If you are a mom who can successfully produce a little extra breast milk or if you have some stashed away that is less than a year old, we hope you’ll consider donating it!
Your body provides the nutrition; let science provide the life-changing magic needed to save a life!
For more information about breast milk donation at EIRMC:
Visit EIRMC’s milk donation center website, located here, or watch this short informational video.
More about children’s services at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center:
Prepping Your Child For Surgery — Tips to Translate the Hospital Experience for All Ages
We Have A PICU in Idaho Falls. Here’s Why That Matters To You.
Immeasurable Benefits for Families : Ronald McDonald Room Comes to EIRMC.
Potty Training Tips :: EIRMC Pediatric Therapists Tell All
