Milk banks & breast milk – a few fun facts . . .
If you’re anything like us then scrolling through adorable baby photos and videos on Instagram is one of your favorite ways to procrastinate. While we post our fair share of these we’ve always had a soft spot for informative content and it seems you do too. In honor of World Human Milk Donation Day, we shared a few fun facts about milk banks here and we were so impressed by your response that we decided to step it up a notch.
Read on to discover where the nation’s first milk bank was located, just how precious one ounce of mama’s milk really is and so much more . . .
The banks . . .
The first milk bank opened in Vienna, Austria in 1909 and it wasn’t long before the U.S. took note. In fact, the nation’s very first milk bank opened right here in Massachusetts at the Boston Floating Children’s Hospital (now part of Tufts Medical Center) in 1910.
Currently, there are 32 accredited non-profit milk banks located in both the US and Canada. Located in Massachusetts, Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast is proud to be a member of the team.
Non-profit milk banks are particularly special because we focus entirely on promoting infant health with no profit motive. We may have said this before, but we exist purely because babies need us to exist.
Non-profit milk banks are regulated by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and the Food and Drug Association. They are also licensed in states that require a tissue license. Speaking of which . . .
Much like blood donors, milk donors undergo a health screening, medical history review and blood test under the oversight of medical professionals. Safety is our utmost priority.
The milky stuff . . .
A dynamic living fluid, breast milk contains antibodies, hormones, white blood cells, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, fat and so much more. All this goodness makes it impossible to fully replicate human milk.
Studies show that when a mother’s own milk is not available, pasteurized human donor milk is the next best option. For this reason, most donor milk is used by medically fragile and premature infants being cared for in the NICU. Today, over 80% of NICUs nationwide rely on donor milk to help nourish, heal, and protect their tiny charges.
Just one ounce of breastmilk provides up to three (potentially lifesaving) meals for our most premature babies.
While our donor milk is prioritized for the most vulnerable infants, breastmilk has well documented benefits for all babies. These include improved neurodevelopmental outcomes and better long-term physical and dental health. Additionally, the risk of developing medical conditions like asthma and diabetes is significantly decreased.
Last but not least, breastfeeding has benefits for mom too. Studies have found that certain cancers, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, are all less common among women who breastfeed.
Mama’s milk? Pure magic! Interested in donating some of your stash? We make it easy – every step of the way. Learn more (or get the process started) here.
