MaineGeneral Health and Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast announce the grand opening of a new outpatient donor milk dispensary at Kennebec Pediatrics in Augusta, Maine.
Families in the Augusta area now have an additional resource to support them as they navigate life with a new baby. Local families can now obtain supplemental donor breastmilk for their newborns to help bridge the gap between a maternal milk supply and baby’s needs in the early postpartum period, thanks to Kennebec Pediatrics and Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast.
Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast collects milk from parents who have more than their babies need. It then screens, pasteurizes, and tests the milk before dispensing it to babies whose parents do not have enough. Milk donor screening, modeled after blood donor screening, includes a health history, medical approval, and a blood test.
Milk from donors who pass the screening is pasteurized and tested by an independent lab. This ensures safety before it is dispensed to hospitals, dispensaries, or families.
An organization on the leading edge . . .
By opening a donor milk dispensary, Kennebec Pediatrics is on the leading edge of organizations providing access to donor milk in the community. The importance of providing human milk for the health of birthing people and infants is well-established. All major medical and public health organizations endorse chest/breastfeeding. Use of donor milk supports this in the long run.
When a baby requires supplementation in the early days after birth, research shows that families typically see donor milk as a temporary bridge. Meanwhile, formula is often seen as a long-term solution. Therefore, having donor milk available at community locations like a dispensary can be an essential component in improving human milk feeding rates for families who have that goal.
A human milk diet for babies has been definitively linked to extensive health benefits. These include lower rates of certain cancers and diseases, as well as improved neurodevelopment.
Bridging the gap – improving maternal and infant health care in Maine . . .
A donor milk dispensary is a community location. Families whose babies have a prescription can obtain donor milk there for home use. Currently, babies at many Maine hospitals can receive donor milk while in the hospital. After going home, if a baby needs donor milk, a dispensary is a convenient and important option. Dispensaries make donor milk easier to access while the maternal milk supply is developing.
“Families frequently tell us that access to both lactation counseling and donor milk are instrumental supports in their breastfeeding journey. We are grateful to partner with Kennebec Pediatrics to make donor milk more accessible to Maine families,” commented Kylia Garver, COO for Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast.
Kennebec Pediatrics cares for 13,000 patients in the Greater Augusta area annually. With nine physicians on staff and a breastfeeding support group, they have a strong commitment to supporting parents’ feeding goals for their babies. “We’re thrilled to offer this resource to our patients. It is a testament to our dedication to infant and maternal health,” noted Kelsey Walton, MD.
