BROOKINGS Brookings Health System is now the 46th breast milk collection depot for the Mothers Milk Bank of Iowa collection program. The health system is just the fourth collection site in South Dakota.
Some lactating mothers are blessed with the gift of surplus breast milk, said Brookings Health System Obstetrics Director Michelle Sand. Donating surplus breast milk helps satisfy infant hunger and saves the lives of vulnerable babies, especially those who are born prematurely or with weakened immune systems. Human donor milk is also a great option for babies who are adopted or for mothers who have milk supply issues. By becoming a collection depot for donors, Brookings Health System is continuing our goal to support mothers and babies in all aspects of breastfeeding.
Approved donors may drop-off their frozen milk by appointment to the New Beginnings Birth Center obstetrics unit by calling 605-696-8052. The milk will be frozen and stored until gathered by Mothers Milk Bank of Iowa, which will pasteurize the milk and dispense it to locations across the United States.
Milk donors must be in good health and willing to pump and store milk according to the milk banks standards. Donors must donate a minimum of 200 ounces of milk over the course of their donation period. To become a donor, lactating women must pass a screening process that includes a verbal interview, written questionnaire, permission to contact their health care providers, and blood testing. Other donation requirements include:
- Non-smoking
- Not taking medication (with a few exceptions)
- Not consume alcohol 12 hours before pumping donated milk
- Not taking herbal supplements, including herbs in multivitamin (multivitamin is not an exclusion)
Individuals interested in becoming a human milk donor may contact Heidi Baudhuin at 319-384-9930 or [email protected]. More information can also be found online at brookingshealth.org/milkdonor.
In 2023, Mothers Milk Bank of Iowa dispensed milk to eight states, serving 44 hospitals. Seventy-four percent of the donated milk was dispensed to hospitals and 26% to infants at home. People interested in ordering donor human milk may contact the Mothers Milk Bank of Iowa at 319-384-9929 or 319-356-2652.
Brookings Health Systems OB unit, New Beginnings Birth Center, has eight beds consisting of five labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum suites, one triage room and two to four postpartum recovery rooms. The unit provides full OB services to expectant parents and enables area residents to deliver their baby close to home with a local physician. The OB teams care philosophy includes letting parents choose the birth experience they want, embracing the female bodys natural ability to give birth, and supporting mothers and babies in all aspects of breastfeeding. To learn more about New Beginnings Birth Center, visit brookingshealth.org/OB.
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