Mercy Hospital opens Braum’s Infant Milk Room

OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) – Local businesses are giving back to new mothers with an infant milk room at Mercy Hospital.

“We pray for the infants who will receive the milk and supplement stored here that they may grow strong and healthy,” said Debra Spears, Mercy Hospital OKC Chaplain.

Mercy Hospital in OKC celebrated the new Braum’s Infant Milk Room, part of Mercy Hospital’s Love Family Women’s Center. A $500,000 gift generously donated by the Oklahoma-based company.

“Nobody could provide better milk than a mother’s milk than Braum’s milk,” said Cathy Keating, Co-chair of the Mercy Health Foundation’s Capital Campaign.

It’s a special place for parents to check in breast milk while in Mercy’s care.

Mercy staff said breast milk and formula is actually medicine babies need.

“It holds vitamin D, iron, zinc and is full of antibodies. That’s especially important for our NICU babies,” said Laura Beck, Executive director of Nursing.

Freezing breast milk is the best way to store it if not used immediately.

“When we prepare breast milk for our babies, it’s got to be done in a sterile environment,” said Beck.

“They’re individual milk from their mom will be put in their bin, we want to keep mom’s milk with mom’s baby,” said Brandy Chaney, the NICU Manager. “If mom can’t provide for them. We have a stash of donor milk that we get from the Oklahoma’s Mother’s Milk bank.”

The long-term goal for the milk room is for it to become a donation center, part of the milk bank network, where anyone can come donate breast milk.

Mercy said certified milk technicians will prepare the milk for NICU patients.

The space is expected to serve nearly 600 babies each year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.