The Medical City is now a Donation Depot for Mothers’ Milk

The Medical City (TMC), a certified mother-baby friendly hospital, announces the opening of its Human Milk Bank which aims to provide safe, pasteurized donor milk to preterm and sick babies in the neonatal intensive care units.

Breast milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns. It is regarded as the best way to improve the health of children as it contains the necessary nutrients a body can absorb.

Breastfeeding experts recommend the initiation of breastfeeding within one hour following birth, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond.

If direct breastfeeding is not possible, infants and young children can be provided human milk through other milk sharing arrangements or through milk banks.
Non-profit milk banks like TMC’s rely on the generosity of breastfeeding women who take the time and effort to donate their milk to help infants during the most vulnerable phase of their lives.

TMC’s Human Milk Bank screens potential donors for free, preferably mothers with nursing infants up to one year of age. If the donor passes the screening, her milk will be collected, pasteurized and tested before it is dispensed to feed preterm and sick babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Modeled after the Human Milk Bank Association of North America Guidelines and the Philippine Milk Bank Association, the process of milk donor screening entails a medical interview, physician assessment, and blood tests. Breast milk from mothers who pass the screening are then pasteurized and tested by an independent lab to ensure that it is free of contaminants and pathogens before being dispensed to hospitals or families.

Donor human milk can be lifesaving for preterm infants. It is especially protective against a life-threatening condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which affects one in ten of the smallest preterm infants, with risk reduction of 79%. Subsequently, it improves recovery and outcome, shortens the course of illness, which later translates to lower cost of care and needed hospitalization.

“With the establishment of our Lactation Center, which provides prenatal, antenatal and post natal support to breastfeeding mothers, the creation of the Human Milk Bank soon followed, giving an opportunity for nursing women who have more than enough milk to share or donate to other families in need,” said Dr. Cristina Tuazon, Head of the TMC Human Milk Bank.

“Our Human Milk Bank relies heavily on donations from generous mothers. We applaud these wonderful women who have made a difference to the lives of the infants and families who benefited from the milk they donated,” said Dr. Cristina Cornelio-Bernardo, Clinical Director of the Lactation Center.

Mothers who wish to donate human milk can contact the TMC Lactation Center at 9881000 or 9887000 ext. 6720 from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, or visit the center located at the Women’s Health Floor, 6th Floor, The Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City.