Milk bank at CHKD, donors needed to keep up supply

Watch the Digital Desk segment with CHKD in the video player.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The King’s Daughters Milk Bank at CHKD provides pasteurized donor milk to premature and critically-ill infants.

The nonprofit, hospital-based donor milk bank celebrated their 10-year anniversary this summer.

“It’s the first and only milk bank in Virginia,” said director Ashlynn Baker, RN, IBCLC.

Since opening its doors in 2014, Baker said more than 4.1 million ounces of milk have been donated.

At the Digital Desk, Baker discussed the milk bank, the importance of milk for these babies and the need for donors. Watch the segment in the video player on this page.

Prior to being the director, Baker worked in the neonatal units. At the milk bank, she’s helping babies in a different way, but holds her experience close.

“It’s a wonderful way as a previous NICU nurse, and always a NICU nurse at heart, to know I’m still having a hand in helping our nation’s most vulnerable infants to survive and thrive,” Baker said.

Baker said donor milk is essential. And, providers prescribe it as part of the babies medical treatment.

“The benefits of human milk are such that you can’t find a bioactive component, antibacterial, antiviral components, the human growth hormones, the human proteins, the anti-inflammatory components, you can’t find that in any other form of nutrition,” Baker said.

It is vital to have access to pasteurized donated milk, and for milk banks to continue their work to help these vulnerable babies.

If available, the King’s Daugthers Milk Bank at CHKD wants babies to receive their mother’s own milk. If that milk is unavailable, then pasteurized donor human milk should be used.

“Our goal is that donors’ milk would just be a bridge, a prescribed medication — like a medication, a bridge, until mother’s milk volume is efficient or sufficient for their baby’s needs,” Baker said.

Donor milk is important, especially as supply changes, which Baker said can happen for a variety of reasons.

“Milk donors have a very small window during their lactation period, which may be months, years, a very short duration where they’re able to express surplus milk and help this mission,” said Baker.

There’s a constant need to recruit additional donors.

“As one donor retires, we need to fill that void with another family that altruistically wants to step up, volunteer and help us advance our mission for reaching these babies,” Baker said.

The King’s Daughters Milk Bank is currently meeting the need of the hospitals they serve, but there is always a growing need as donors retire and the demand continues to rise.

Currently, the CDC said preterm birth affects nearly 500,000 babies each year in the United States.

“One in 10 babies are born premature, and that number, unfortunately, continues to grow,” Baker said.

In terms of donations, a little bit goes a long way.

“When a donor finds out that one ounce of their milk can treat [and] literally provide a lifesaving treatment to as many as four premature infants, it really gets them pumped up and interested in spending the time and energy to express extra milk,” Baker said.

The milk bank in Norfolk provides milk to the NICU at CHKD and also other hospitals on the east coast.

“It’s an overwhelmingly rewarding experience to help other hospitals in their journey to providing human milk to high risk infants,” Baker said.

Across North America, there are 31 member milk banks that are a part of The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) .

Last year, the member milk banks dispensed 10 million ounces around North America, according to CHKD.

“We’re a small but mighty network,” Baker said. “Currently, King’s Daughter’s Milk Bank at CHKD serves over 50 hospital units with pasteurized donor human milk from New Jersey to Florida.”

The milk bank is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located at 400 Gresham Drive in Norfolk. Weekend collections are available, but call 757-668-MILK (6455) for more information.

To become a donor, call 757-668-MILK (6455) , or email KDmilkbank@chkd.org to get started. Click here to find out more about the milk bank.

Watch the full Digital Desk segment to learn more about the milk bank.

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