The Youth Clinic partners with Mothers Milk Bank (MMB) as a donation site allowing for mothers in the Northern Colorado area to donate their milk to mothers and babies in need.
National Prematurity Awareness Month
With the month of November being National Prematurity Awareness month, the importance of donations is at the forefront. More than 10% of babies in Colorado and half a million babies in the United States are born prematurely or before 37 weeks. The growth and development that takes place in the final stages of pregnancy can be essential for the survival of a baby. The reality is that the earlier the baby is born, the more severe their health conditions can be. That is why having milk donations is so imperative, especially this season.
The Importance
Each milk donation is handled with care and individually pasteurized in order to kill bacteria but still keeping the quality and nutrients that makes human milk so critical to infant development. The winter months are such a pivotal time for milk donations because the cold weather puts babies at a higher risk for respiratory illnesses and other complications- both of which can be nurtured by human milk intake.
Why You Should Donate
“More than 90 percent of Mothers’ Milk Bank milk donations directly serve premature babies in hospital settings and it’s our mission to make sure every baby who needs milk to survive receives it,” said Laraine Lockhart-Borman, director of outreach at Mothers’ Milk Bank. Premature birth is extremely scary for not only the babies health, but for the mothers as well. The winter months are such a pivotal time for milk donations because the cold weather puts babies at a higher risk for respiratory illnesses and other complications- both of which can be nurtured by human milk intake.
The Process
The Youth Clinic is a deposit station for Mother’s Milk Bank, but the milk donated gets sent to deserving mothers all across the country. Each milk donation is handled with care and individually pasteurized in order to kill bacteria but still keep the quality and nutrients that makes human milk so critical to infant development.
Get Involved
Aid mothers just like you to a safer premature birth journey this winter. Fill out the following donation screening form here on Mother’s Milk Bank website. If you are unsure of your donor eligibility, call Mother’s Milk Bank at 303.869.1888 or toll-free at 833-234-0555.
For additional information, please visit the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation website.