Delivering A Healthy Milk Supply For Healthy Babies

Breastfeeding is considered the gold standard for newborn and infant nutrition.

In fact, breastfeeding can reduce several health risks for babies, such as gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea or even more significant risks like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Still, some mothers are unable to provide their own milk, whether due to production issues or some other health concern, and that's okay.

Franciscan Health's partnerships with The Milk Bank helps keep newborn babies healthy.

Key Takeaways: Milk Banks

• Breastfeeding provides significant health protection for babies, including reduced risk of gastrointestinal infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but for mothers who are unable to provide their own milk, Franciscan Health's partnership with The Milk Bank offers a safe and reliable alternative.
• The Milk Bank is the only program of its kind in Indiana, supplying carefully screened and pasteurized donor milk to Franciscan Health facilities so that mothers have access to safe human milk for their babies both before and after hospital discharge.
• There are two types of milk bank access points within the Franciscan system — milk depots where vetted volunteers can drop off breast milk donations, and milk express locations where parents can purchase pasteurized donor milk after leaving the hospital.
• Quick access to donor milk in the community gives parents peace of mind, as the program is designed to serve as a safe medical treatment, bridge a supply gap, or help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals.

Collaboration With The Milk Bank

As crucial as breastfeeding is in providing newborns with nutrients, Franciscan's partnership with The Milk Bank is a much-needed resource at the Franciscan Health Center for Women and Children in Lafayette .

Both hospitals are collaborating with The Milk Bank to give mothers access to safe human milk for their babies before and after they are discharged.

The Milk Bank is the only program of its kind in Indiana. They receive their milk supply from carefully screened donors. Once the donated milk is pasteurized, it's distributed to Franciscan Health facilities and other participating hospitals.

Pasteurized donor human milk is an important nutritional therapy for many at-risk Special Care Nursery babies. It offers numerous benefits in the absence of mother's milk, including infection-fighting, active growth and development hormones, improved digestion, and better nutrition.

There are two types of milk banks under the Franciscan system. Milk depots, collection sites for vetted volunteers to drop off breast milk donations, are located at Franciscan Health Indianapolis. A milk express for purchases by parents after leaving the hospital is located at Franciscan Health Lafayette East and its Community Education Center.

"Quick access to donor milk in our community gives parents peace of mind," said Tristan Kirby, MPH, director of community education for Franciscan Health Lafayette East. "The Milk Bank's Milk Express Depots provide safe donor milk as a medical treatment, to bridge a gap or to help meet breastfeeding goals."

As of 2022, a qualified parent visiting the Franciscan Health Center for Women and Children in Lafayette can purchase breast milk in an inpatient or outpatient setting. The program can fill a short-term need for mothers who are unable or are still learning to breastfeed.

For mothers preparing for birth or experiencing breastfeeding concerns, Kirby and Mitchell emphasized that Franciscan Health offers several resources to assist breastfeeding mothers, including classes during pregnancy, inpatient and outpatient support and a virtual breastfeeding support group.