Breast milk you can bank on

Experts agree that breast milk is best for babies, but for whatever reason, some women cannot breastfeed immediately after their baby is born. Kootenai Health addresses that issue by using donated human breast milk for babies born at the hospital.

The milk is given to babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and to the babies born to women whose milk has not yet come in, said Clinical Nutrition Manager Tamara Smith. Parents generally have to ask for the donated milk.

“It’s not always automatically provided,” she said. “It’s often based on the gestational age of the babies and what the parents want.”

Women who plan to give birth at the hospital are asked in advance if they would like to use donated human milk if necessary. Breast milk offers antibodies that help protect against illness and infections and provides important nutrients not found in formula.

“It maintains their gut health integrity,” Smith said. “Mom’s breast milk is most beneficial for the baby, but your best second is going with (donated) human breast milk.”

The hospital does not accept donated milk from the public but contracts with Prolacta Bioscience, a research company that works with several human milk banks. The milk is screened for various diseases, including HIV, leukemia (HTLV), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis. The milk is also pasteurized and must offer a minimum of 20 calories per fluid ounce.

Donors also cannot be on certain medications, including medication for pain or depression.

“We use a company that has very rigorous safety standards,” said Nutrition Technician Brittany Deal. “Each batch that is donated is tested.”

Not only is each batch from each donor tested, the milk is DNA matched to the donor, Smith said.

“It’s to make sure the milk that’s being donated is from the woman approved to donate,” she said.

The hospital has been using Prolacta Bioscience for several years, usually using a minimum of 120 ounces a month. Use can vary quite a bit, Smith said.

“It’s really dependent on the patient population,” she said.

The donated milk is kept frozen in a commercial grade freezer in a special milk room in the hospital where it is kept and prepared. The milk can be kept frozen for up to a year.

The milk can be used by mothers who are unable to breastfeed despite trying.

“It’s a great bridge for those moms who are trying to get their supply in,” Deal said.

The milk is only available for babies born at the hospital during their initial stay. Mothers trying to get their milk to come in are required to follow a breast pumping schedule so they can contribute as much as possible, Smith said. Lactation experts also work with the mothers so they can breastfeed successfully.

“We do have specific protocol in place,” she said. “We use it in our NICU, because they’re the very sick, the youngest. We want to give it to the most premature babies.”

The milk program is not available for older babies who might be in the hospital and it cannot be used off the grounds.

“It is for hospital use only,” Smith said. “We don’t send donor milk home with folks.”