Breast milk depots open in Kelowna, Kamloops | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

Breast milk depots open in Kelowna, Kamloops

Breast-feeding mothers have a place to donate excess milk.

New breast milk depots have opened in Kelowna and Kamloops, providing lactating moms with an easier way to donate.

“Screened and pasteurized donor human milk is often in high demand at hospitals across the province for premature or sick infants," Rob Finch, Interior Health’s maternal, newborn, child & youth network director said, in a press release.

"While a mother’s own milk is always the first choice, pasteurized donor human milk is extremely beneficial for at-risk newborns, such as those born prematurely.”

Human milk has many health-promoting properties for babies, including antibodies to fight infection and disease, which Interior Health points out is particularly important for sick and very tiny babies.

The introduction of collection depots at the Kamloops Health Unit and the Community Health Centre in Kelowna will help more people become donors and will allow them to donate regularly.

There's currently a provincial network of 28 human milk depots, supporting the Provincial Milk Bank at B.C. Women’s Hospital and Health Centre along with the five other B.C. health authorities.

The depots provide a place to drop off raw, frozen milk that is transported to the B.C. Women’s Provincial Milk Bank in Vancouver.

While new donors are welcome, they must complete the Provincial Milk Bank’s pre-screening process before they can donate their milk, which consists of a telephone interview to confirm good health, not taking select medications and/or supplements, and willing to undergo blood testing.

For information contact call 604-875-3743 or visit bcwomens.ca and search ‘milk bank.’


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