MaineGeneral Health and Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast announce 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 milk than their babies need; screens, pasteurizes, and tests the milk; then dispenses it to babies whose parents do not have enough milk for them. Milk donor screening, modeled after blood donor screening, includes health history, physician or midwife approval, and a blood test. Milk from donors who pass the screening is pasteurized and tested by an independent lab to ensure safety before being dispensed to hospitals, dispensaries, or families.
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, with all major medical and public health organizations endorsing 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 tend to view donor milk as a temporary bridge and formula 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 for babies including lower rates of certain cancers and diseases, lower rates of obesity, and improved neurodevelopment.
A donor milk dispensary is a community location where a family whose baby has a prescription can obtain donor milk for use at home. 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 local option. Dispensaries make donor milk easier to access while the maternal milk supply is developing.
“Families frequently tell us that access to lactation counseling and access to donor milk are instrumental supports in their breastfeeding journey. We are so 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 are thrilled to offer this resource to our patients. It is a testament to our dedication to infant and maternal health,” noted Kelsey Walton, MD.
Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast is a nonprofit community milk bank accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). The milk bank has been screening donors, pasteurizing milk, and dispensing to over 100 hospitals and to families throughout Maine and the Northeastern United States since 2011.
Families and health care clinicians seeking more information on receiving or donating milk can check the milk bank’s website at https://milkbankne.org/. More information about Kennebec Pediatrics can be found online at https://www.mainegeneral.org/medical-services/primary-care/childrens-primary-care/kennebec-pediatrics/
