Resources for Health Care Professionals

The Milk Bank offers services that can help you meet the requirements for the Joint Commission Perinatal Core Measure mandated in January 2014 that addresses exclusive human milk feeding.

Since our establishment in 2005, The Milk Bank has been proud to be recognized as an active member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). The Milk Bank is a non-profit organization that promotes community health by providing pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) for all babies, especially premature and ill infants. HMBANA guidelines provide evidence-based direction to support the screening, handling and distribution of a safe optimal product by its member banks.

Extensive research has shown the value of using PDHM in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and hospital settings. According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (2017), PDHM is the next best option if a mother’s own milk is unavailable. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states: “If mother’s own milk is unavailable despite significant lactation support, PDHM from a milk bank should be used” (2012).

Studies have shown that the use of PDHM can reduce the need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) resulting in significant cost savings. The use of PDHM for both premature and high-risk infants has been shown to reduce the incidence of many conditions including necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and infection, resulting in a shorter length of stay (HMBANA 2015). Overall, human milk results in both short and long-term health care cost-saving; therefore it makes economic sense to invest in the purchase of pasteurized donor human milk for your infants (HMBANA, 2015; Edwards & Spatz, 2012).

When you are ready to partner with The Milk Bank and offer pasteurized donor human milk at your healthcare facility contact Sarah Long, IBCLC, Clinical Director, 317-536-1670, extension 104, or slong@themilkbank.org.

Menu