Valley Regional Medical Center Partners with Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin - Opening Brownsville’s First Donor Human Milk Depot
Donor Moms Across the Rio Grande Valley are Needed to Help Premature, Ill Infants
Brownsville, Texas - November 13, 2013 –Valley Regional Medical Center today announced it has opened Brownsville’s first donor human milk depot, a place where lactating women can donate their extra breastmilk to help feed premature and critically ill babies. The donated breastmilk will be sent to The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin where it is pasteurized and made safe for babies, then dispensed by prescription to hospitals and outpatients throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and beyond.
As a nonprofit community milk bank, The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin serves over 100 hospitals in 20 states, including Valley Regional Medical Center.
“Because some of our babies receive milk from the Milk Bank, we understand how precious this gift is” says Karen Rhodes, Director of Women’s Service at Valley Regional Medical Center. “We’re excited to become a drop off site for our community”
“Our reputation for providing safe, nutritionally-analyzed, and labeled donor human milk to hospitals and outpatients has led to tremendous growth in demand -- a challenge and also a success,” said Kim Updegrove, Executive Director of The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. “By partnering with Valley Regional Medical Center, we will raise our awareness among the Rio Grande Valley’s breastfeeding mothers who are uniquely qualified to help save the lives of premature and critically ill babies.”
The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin also runs a Charitable Care Program that ensures donor milk is available to any baby with a medical need, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.
Women who are currently breastfeeding infants under one year old are eligible to be screened at no charge to become human milk (aka breast milk) donors. Although any woman can donate her breast milk regardless of where she lives, the new milk depot will make it easier for Lower Rio Grande Valley donors to donate this scarce resource that has a life-saving impact.
The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin needs 700 donors to meet the expected 2013 demand. As of November 1, 2013, 536 women are approved and active donors to The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. Breastfeeding and lactating women in both the Lower and Upper Rio Grande Valley who are interested in donating their breast milk for the benefit of premature, ill and medically fragile infants may call toll-free 1-877-813-6455 to begin the screening process.
About Valley Regional Medical Center
Valley Regional Medical Center is conveniently located at the corner of Expressway 77 and Alton Gloor Blvd. With physicians representing over 25 specialties, Valley Regional Medical Center is a leader in a vast array of high quality programs, including advanced diagnostic imaging, interventional cardiac catheterization, open heart surgery, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, women’s services, pediatric services and neonatal intensive care. Our Emergency Department is designated as a Level III Trauma Center treating a wide range of emergent needs 24 hours a day. For more information on Valley Regional Medical Center’s programs and services, visit our website at www.valleyregionalmedicalcenter.com
About the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin
The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin is a non-profit organization whose mission is to accept, pasteurize and dispense donor human milk by physician prescription, primarily to premature and ill infants. Women who are lactating can donate milk to The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin regardless of where they live. Prospective donors across the U.S. may call toll-free 1-877-813-6455. Learn more at www.milkbank.com.
Please click here to view the story from Valley Central Television station.