Mothers’ Milk Bank Teams up with Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital
The demand for human donor milk in hospital neonatal intensive care units continues to rise, and a new milk bank depot in Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital will give lactating mothers a new drop-off location for their donations. The milk depot will be serviced by the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. Women who are currently breastfeeding infants under 1 year old are eligible to be screened at no charge to become breast milk donors.
One of the largest suppliers of donor human milk to hospitals across Texas and in 14 states, the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin fills prescriptions written by physicians for the most fragile babies who need the life-giving and sustaining nutrition of donor human milk to thrive.
Although any woman can donate her breast milk regardless of where she lives, the new milk depot located inside at the lactation office at Memorial Hermann Katy will make it easier for all Katy-area donors to donate this scarce resource that has life-saving impact.
“Our reputation for providing safe, nutritionally-analyzed, and labeled donor human milk to hospitals and outpatients has led to tremendous growth in demand – a challenge and also a success,” says Kim Updegrove, executive director of the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. “By partnering with Memorial Hermann Katy, we will raise our awareness with a vital audience – breastfeeding women who are uniquely qualified to help save the lives of premature and critically ill babies.”
Nonprofit milk banks like the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin ensure donor human milk is safe and available to the infants who need it most. The pasteurized breast milk dispensed is specifically processed to meet the specific needs of fragile and sick babies, serving babies with the greatest medical needs, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.
The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin needs 575 donors to meet the expected 2012 demand. As of April 2012, 156 women are approved and active donors to the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin, including three who are using the Memorial Hermann Katy Milk Depot. Breastfeeding and lactating women in Katy and greater Houston who are interested in donating their for the benefit of premature, ill, and medically fragile infants may call toll-free 877-813-6455 to begin the screening process.
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital is located at 23900 Katy Freeway at Grand Parkway. The Memorial Hermann Katy Milk Depot accepts breast milk donations by appointment only. Please call 281-644-7345 for more information. Please mention you found this on www.KatyMagazine.com.
