New depots allow people to donate milk for vulnerable babies

Interior Health is making it easier to donate human milk to help other moms and babies with the introduction of new depots in Kelowna and Kamloops.

While many breastfeeding mothers in Interior Health have donated milk through periodic milk bank drives in the community, the introduction of collection depots at the Kamloops Health Unit and the Community Health Centre in Kelowna will help more people become donors and will allow them to donate on a continuous basis.

“Two new milk depots for Kelowna and Kamloops will help infants in the very first, fragile stages of their lives, and are incredibly important for those first few days,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “I am proud of Interior Health for making this happen and thank the selfless donors who provide milk to meet the ever-growing demand.”

Human milk has many health-promoting properties for babies, including antibodies to fight infection and disease. Human milk is best for all babies. It is especially important for sick and very tiny babies.

“Screened and pasteurized donor human milk is often in high demand at hospitals across the province for premature or sick infants. While a mother’s own milk is always the first choice, pasteurized donor human milk is extremely beneficial for at-risk newborns, such as those born prematurely,” said Rob Finch, Interior Health’s Maternal, Newborn, Child & Youth Network Director. “Our sincere thanks to all those who have supported milk drives in the past for your continued dedication to the provincial milk bank and the babies it serves.”

Interior Health joins the provincial network of human milk depots rounding out the number to 28 milk depots, supporting the Provincial Milk Bank at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre along with the five other B.C. health authorities. The depots provide a place to drop off raw, frozen milk, which is transported to the BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank in Vancouver. Donors are pre-screened and the donated milk is pasteurized at the provincial milk bank and distributed to hospitals throughout B.C.

“We are thrilled to have all of the health authorities support the provincial milk bank,” said Stephanie Gillespie, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at BC Women’s. “We supply mother’s milk to the most fragile babies across B.C. and with the addition of these new milk depots, mothers from the Interior can more easily donate to families in need.”

Pasteurized human milk is used at Interior Health neonatal intensive care units in Kamloops and Kelowna.

The BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank has been in operation for 45 years. It has helped tens of thousands of babies and children, screened more than 6,500 donors and processed 60,000 litres of milk.

New donors are always welcome to the program. Donors must complete the Provincial Milk Bank’s pre-screening process before they can donate their milk. Screening consists of a telephone interview to confirm potential donors are in good health, not taking select medications and/or supplements, and willing to undergo blood testing.

For information contact call 604-875-3743 or visit bcwomens.ca and search ‘milk bank.’