Milk Drive Helps the Most Vulnerable Babies

August 8, 2014

SOLANO COUNTY – Local agencies are calling for breastfeeding mothers to donate their extra breast milk to the San Jose Mothers' Milk Bank to provide the needed nutrition for premature infants, babies and toddlers who are failing to thrive or have life-threatening diseases or conditions.

"Human milk is a gift and the best choice for infants. Our aim is to provide an easy and convenient way for women to give their milk, which is a necessary and critical part of an infant’s health," says Alyssa Perry, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant for Solano County’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. “Donor milk provides the immunologic components that protect the infant from infections and strengthen its delicate gastrointestinal tract.”

Solano County WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program is partnering with Mothers’ Milk Bank, a San Jose-based nonprofit and the only California organization to be accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America for adherence to standards for processing and delivering human milk to a neonatal intensive care unit.

“Breast milk is the first defense against infections for babies,” Perry says.  “A mother’s milk is always best for her child, but when her breast milk is not available, donor milk is second best.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics cites “unequivocal evidence” that breastfeeding protects against a variety of diseases, including respiratory tract infections and necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease of the digestive tract that is particularly dangerous to premature infants.

“Similar to a blood drive, we are collecting human milk for the Mothers’ Milk Bank, where it will be processed, pasteurized and provided to infants who are medically fragile,” Perry says. “Breastfeeding is not just a personal choice—it’s a public health issue.”

The Milk Drive event will be held in three locations:

-- August 12 in Vacaville at 1119 E. Monte Vista Avenue in the 1st floor conference room from 9am-2pm

-- August 13 in Vallejo at 365 Tuolumne Street 3rd floor conference room from 1pm-4pm

-- August 14 in Fairfield at 2101 Courage Drive in the multipurpose room from 9am-2pm

No appointment is necessary.  A Mothers’ Milk Bank representative will be available to provide information on the screening and donation process during the event.

For additional information on how to support breastfeeding, go to our County website at www.solanocounty.com/breastfeeding 

For information on the Milk Drive event, contact Alyssa Perry at (707) 784-2137 or [email protected]