CINCINNATI -- Officials are hopeful a new, centralized donation center will allow more mothers to donate breast milk for premature babies.
Union Institute & University and OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank will open Cincinnati’s second milk drop-off location at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Cincinnati Academic Center in Walnut Hills. OhioHealth opened its first Cincinnati-area location last year in Evendale.
About 23 percent of breast milk donated to OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank comes from women in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, according to Chris Smith, president of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association.
In 2017, the organization distributed about 30,000 ounces of milk to four hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati area. Just one ounce will feed a preemie for three days.
“We have been thrilled at the response to our first milk drop in Cincinnati and are so excited to open a second location to make dropping off milk even more convenient for additional donors in the area,” Smith said in a news release.
Women who are interested in donating breast milk must take part in a process that screens them for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis to ensure the quality of the milk. Prospective donors must also complete a medical and lifestyle history review. Donated milk is pasteurized, frozen and distributed by a physician prescription.
Click here if you’d like more information about donating or call 1-800-861-6400.
