Exciting news! We’re teaming up with Lawrence General Hospital to bring safe donor human milk to even more families across the Northeast. By providing equitable access to this critical medical resource, our partnership aims to help every baby get the healthiest start in life—the start they deserve.
Ensuring equitable access to donor milk – a path to health and hope . . .
Lawrence General Hospital and Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast announce a new partnership to support breastfeeding families. The program is funded by Massachusetts Attorney General Campbell’s Maternal Health Equity grant, which aims to reduce maternal health disparities by increasing access to culturally competent maternal health support services.
Lawrence General Hospital welcomed nearly 1,500 babies in 2024 and serves patients and families across the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire. Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, an accredited nonprofit milk bank, is partnering with Lawrence General’s Maternal Child Health unit to provide access to subsidized donor milk for families who want to breastfeed but need short-term supplementation.
Donor milk for families is free of charge and available to any family seeking maternity care at Lawrence General Hospital, said Michelle Young, NP, Lawrence General’s director of maternal child health. “Since the partnership began one month ago, three families have taken advantage of donor breast milk,” Young said.
A win for baby, a win for you, a win for all . . .
The importance of human milk is well-established, with all major medical and public health organizations endorsing human milk as the ideal first food for babies. For families who want to breastfeed but need to supplement while supply is developing, access to donor milk can lead to better breastfeeding rates. Successful breastfeeding has significant health benefits for both the nursing parent and the baby include lower rates of certain cancers, SIDS, asthma, and obesity for children, as well as improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. Women who breastfeed have lower rates of certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes.
Currently, babies at many Massachusetts hospitals can receive donor milk while in the hospital. Now babies at Lawrence General Hospital will be able to receive the same benefits. The milk bank has also translated handouts about donor milk into six frequently spoken languages so that information is more easily accessible to a greater number of families.
What they’re saying . . .
“We are so grateful for the Massachusetts Attorney General funding and are delighted to partner with Lawrence General Hospital to support the launch of their inpatient program. Their service to the community and commitment to their patients was evident from our first meeting. We are committed to the equitable distribution of donor milk and want all babies who need donor milk to have access to it,” noted Deborah C. Youngblood, CEO for Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast.
Lawrence General Hospital offers free breastfeeding classes and support groups for families in English and Spanish. Additionally, they have inpatient internationally board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) on staff. “We are excited to be able to offer breastfeeding families access to donor milk during their hospital stay. We believe this resource is a much-needed support for parents to assist in pursuing their breastfeeding goals,” said Young.
Seeking more information?
Families and healthcare providers seeking more information may wish to visit these pages:
