WAUSAU — Aspirus is seeking mothers who are interested in becoming breast milk donors.
Aspirus is a milk depot center for The Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, a certified breast milk bank located near Chicago.
“Women who are breastfeeding may have an overabundance of milk and for a variety of reasons might not use all of their milk,” said Chris Hanke, RN, Aspirus Women’s Health Nurse Navigator, in a news release. “Programs such as ours are a way to capture excess breast milk for sick and premature babies who could benefit from the immunological properties of breast milk.”
Potential donors at Aspirus are screened for eligibility using a variety of health history questions and lifestyle questions. Donors are given lab tests to screen for any potential infections. The mother can begin donating milk once she clears the screening process.
According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding promotes better health for mothers and children alike. Increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save more than 800,000 lives every year, the majority being children younger than 6 months.
Mothers who are interested in becoming breast milk donors can contact Aspirus Women’s Health at 715-847-0454, 888-236-2483, or [email protected].
