Lactating parents in the North Island are about to have a new way to help support the most fragile babies in need around B.C., by donating expressed breast milk. The Campbell River Health Unit will soon become an official Donor Milk Collection Depot for BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank.
The Donor Milk Collection Depot at the Campbell River Health Unit will provide a space for screened donors to drop off their excess raw, frozen breast milk. The milk is transported to the Provincial Milk Bank at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre in Vancouver where the milk is pasteurized and distributed to neonatal intensive care, maternity and pediatric units across the province.
“Some people who give birth to a preterm baby struggle to provide their own breast milk and some infants may be too sick to breastfeed,” says Island Health Public Health Manager Carolyn Hutton. “Pasteurized donor milk can be a life saving measure for these infants, providing babies with antibodies to fight disease and infection which is especially vital for premature or babies battling medical conditions.”
Hutton knows firsthand how critical milk donations can be for families, as she received donor milk 17 years ago when her twins, Sofia and Jaeden, were born premature.
“Jaeden was critically ill at birth, and I couldn’t produce enough milk for both babies. What little I could produce went to him first due to his condition. It was a difficult and unexpected situation. Now, I’m thrilled to support the establishment of a milk depot in our health unit. It feels like a meaningful way to pay it forward and help other North Island families in need.”
As of October 27, donors, once screened by the milk bank, can drop off their breast milk Monday to Wednesday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“The demand for milk is high, often exceeds supply, and new donors are always needed” says Kaitlin March, Operations Manager, Specialty Nutrition Services, BC Women’s Hospital. “The expansion of the Donor Milk Collection Depot will provide a vital resource for donors from the North Island wishing to give to the BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank, and ultimately support babies and families in need.”
The first Donor Milk Collection Depot in the Island Health region opened in 2016 at Victoria General Hospital. A second depot opened in 2019 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Since 2016, donors via these two depots have given 3,683 litres of milk to babies in need - enough to fill approximately 18 bathtubs.
Breast milk is an ideal food for all babies. The World Health Organization and Health Canada recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
Public Health nurses offer support to all pregnant people and new parents, their babies, children and families. People may call or visit a public health unit for an infant feeding assessment and breast/chestfeeding support.
Potential donors can find out about eligibility via the BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre’s website.
All pregnant people and new parents may register for Right from the Start Public Health Nursing services, for services including infant feeding support and education, prenatal education like baby’s growth and sleep safety, and connection to local resources Right From The Start.