The Baptist Health milk bank has opened its doors, allowing women to donate their unneeded breast milk to help babies in need. As a drop-off center for donated milk, the bank plays an essential role in providing nutrition to newborns across the state. The milk is then sent to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where it is pasteurized, bottled and distributed to neonatal intensive care units.
Dr. Misty Virmani, the executive medical director of the UAMS milk bank, highlights the many benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. Breastfeeding not only provides ideal nutrition but also reduces the risk of short-term and long-term illnesses for babies. However, not all new mothers can breastfeed due to various reasons, which is where the university milk bank steps in to help in these situations.
The Baptist Health milk depot is the first of its kind in the River Valley and provides a valuable resource for mothers and babies in need. The University of Arkansas is currently the only organization in the state to offer such services, making it one of only 33 programs of its kind in North America. To learn more about donation requirements and drop-off locations, visit tinyurl.com/3n2k9set.
Breastfeeding has been proven to provide babies with ideal nutrition for growth and development while also reducing their risk of both short-term and long-term illnesses. While breastfeeding is encouraged, not all new mothers can do so due to various reasons such as medical conditions or personal preference.
The University of Arkansas Milk Bank helps address this issue by serving as a drop-off center for donated milk that is then sent for pasteurization before being bottled and distributed to neonatal intensive care units across the state.
Dr. Virmani emphasizes how important it is for women who have excess breastmilk they do not plan on using themselves or their babies do not need it anymore to consider donating it instead of throwing it away.
“Breastmilk is precious,” she said. “It’s an essential part of a baby’s diet during those first critical months.”
The Baptist Health Milk Depot has become an essential resource for mothers looking to donate their excess breastmilk or those who cannot produce any at all.
With no other organization in Arkansas offering similar services, this depot fills a crucial gap in resources available for infants across the state.
For more information on how you can get involved with this program or become a donor visit tinyurl.com/3n2k9set
