The Illinois Valley’s First Human Milk Depot at Illinois Valley Community
Hospital Will Help Babies throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Illinois Valley Community Hospital is proud to be the home of the Illinois Valley’s first human milk depot.
Pasteurized donor human milk is an important nutritional therapy for many
at-risk Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) babies, as it provides numerous
benefits in the absence of the mother’s milk, including infection-fighting
factors, active growth and development hormones, improved digestion and
ideal nutrition. While IVCH supports breastfeeding whenever possible,
donor milk can be used when the mother has a low milk supply, is ill or
on certain medications, or in cases of adoption or surrogacy.
“The latest evidence and research proves that human milk plays an
important role in a child’s development and overall health. We are
trying to build our breastfeeding network in the Illinois Valley and provide
the best resources and support possible. A local drop off is such a huge
asset for our community. Illinois Valley Milk Depot is the closest depot
within a minimum of an hour radius.”
IVCH Lactation Specialist Melissa Lenhausen BSN, RN, IBCLC
The milk depot at Illinois Valley Community Hospital collects human milk
donations from healthy, lactating women who are approved donors through
Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. The donations are
then sent to the milk bank, where they are pasteurized to eliminate any
viruses and bacteria. After pasteurization, the milk is tested once again
for safety and distributed to hospitals.
“Rigorous safety protocols ensure that pasteurized donor human milk
is safe when it’s provided from a milk bank that adheres to guidelines
from the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Potential donors
are blood tested and thoroughly screened for communicable diseases, activities
that increase the risk of blood borne diseases, and the use of tobacco,
alcohol, and medications,” says Summer Kelly, Executive Director
of Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. “Milk collected
from Illinois Valley Community Hospital’s milk depot will help support
the complex nutritional needs of sick and premature babies in Illinois
and Wisconsin.”
“Establishing the Illinois Valley Milk Depot at IVCH is a great opportunity
for women and families in this area to join in a network of breastmilk
advocacy. Breastfeeding support and education takes the work of the entire
community, and we are so excited that the Illinois Valley Community Hospital
can be a part of that advocacy going forward.”
IVCH Nurse Midwife Brittany Lange, APN, CNM