TERRE HAUTE – Union Hospital Tuesday celebrated becoming a Milk Depot/Donor Milk Express site for The Milk Bank. The Milk Bank is a nonprofit organization that promotes community health by expanding the safe use of human milk for all babies, especially premature and ill infants.
Union Hospital will act as a donation site to accept milk from lactating women with infants who are younger than two years old. The hospital will ensure the safe handling, storage and transport of donated human milk.
“Partnering with The Milk Bank to become a Depot and Express site is a wonderful way for us to continue serving the families in our community, Kristen Moore, Director of Maternal Child Services, said. “We are proud to increase access to safe human donor milk here in Vigo County. The availability and use of donated breastmilk can lead to thriving babies and healthier outcomes into childhood and adolescence.”
Area donors, who have been approved, will be able to drop off their excess breastmilk at Union Hospital. From there, the milk will be sent to The Milk Bank where it is bottled, pasteurized and tested for sterility by an independent lab. Once checked for safety, it is sent to ordering hospitals or outpatients with physician prescriptions.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, The Milk Bank also has depots in Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri.
To learn more about becoming a breastmilk donor, call The Milk Bank at 317-536-1670 or toll-free at 877-829-7470. For more information about Women’s Health Services at Union Health, visit myunionhealth.org
