Lee Memorial Health System has opened two breast milk depots at Cape Coral Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center. Florida’s first breast milk bank opened in Orlando this month, which gave Lee Memorial the idea to open a breast milk depot to help families locally. A breast milk depot collects donated breast milk for sick or premature infants or if the mother’s milk is not available for some reason.
Nancy Travis, Director of Women’s Services at Cape Coral Hospital, is in charge of running the milk depot in Cape Coral.
She urges mothers who already have a milk supply established for their babies to donate their extra breast milk to infants in need. She says it’s very similar to donating blood.
“It’s a very good thing to do for someone else’s’ baby. I consider it very similar to giving blood. It’s a lifesaving substance for someone else’s baby. So if your baby is healthy, you’re healthy and you have extra, please consider donating,” said Travis.
Travis said her grandson was born early at 27 weeks, weighing a little over two pounds, and received donor breast milk at the neonatal intensive care unit.
“He did get nothing but breast milk the whole time he was in the hospital, including donor milk,” said Travis. “He got milk from his mother and also donor milk, and he is a healthy, happy, little 3-year-old boy now. So it’s a great thing to do. I’ve seen the positive effects of it in my own family, and it’s, just you know, a lifesaving gift.”
No breast milk has been donated yet, but Travis said a lot of interest and calls have been received by the Orlando milk bank from mothers who want to be screened as potential breast milk donors.
Women interested in donating their breast milk are encouraged to contact The Florida Hospital’s Women’s Center in Orlandoat 407-248-5050 to complete a telephone screening. Once it’s determined you’re eligible to donate, a blood draw is required (the cost is covered by the milk bank); and you, your doctor and your baby’s pediatrician will need to sign medical release forms. Your milk can then be dropped off at either of Lee Memorial Health System’s Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) milk banks:
Cape Coral Hospital 239-424-2217
Family Birth Suites, 636 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral
Drop off times: Mon – Fri, 9a.m. to 8p.m., and by appointment.
HealthPark Medical Center 239-343-6024
Lactation Services, 9981 S. HealthPark Drive, Ste. 450, Fort Myers
Drop off times: Mon – Fri, 9a.m. to 1p.m., and by appointment.