WQIO Ohio's Super Station
| COLUMBUS, Ohio – The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank is celebrating the grand opening of a new milk drop location at Licking County WIC on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 10 am. The new milk drop site, located at the Licking County Health Department, 675 Price Road in Newark, will house a freezer to store donated human milk, which will then be transferred to the milk bank in Columbus 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 31 milk banks in North America – 28 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 in and around Newark can conveniently donate their milk. Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it. In 2021 alone we distributed nearly 421,107 ounces of milk to hospitals in 11 states – that’s 3,289 gallons! Just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days, so every little bit helps.” |
| The Newark site marks the 19th OhioHealth milk drop location in Ohio. The donated milk is distributed throughout North America to babies in need. “Donated human milk is a vital part of survival for so many babies born prematurely or with certain health conditions. We are excited to provide a more accessible drop-off location for Licking County women,” said Licking County Health Department Breastfeeding Peer Helper, Robin Hoops, CLS. 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 milkbank@ohiohealth.com 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 prescription. |
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/
About OhioHealth
Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.
Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 12 hospitals, 200+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 47-county area. It has been recognized by FORTUNE as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” 15 times since 2007.
OhioHealth hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital and OhioHealth Berger Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.
