Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth (BID-Plymouth) and Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast (MMBNE) announce the opening of the only human milk depot in Eastern Massachusetts, located at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth’s BirthPlace. A milk bank collects milk from mothers who have more milk than their babies need, then screens, pasteurizes, and tests the milk, and dispenses it primarily to premature and sick babies whose mothers do not have enough milk for them.

A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for Monday, August 4 at 12 pm as part of the hospital’s celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. Representatives from the BirthPlace and Mothers’ Milk Bank will be on-hand to answer questions about donating and receiving breast milk.

“The BirthPlace is honored to collaborate with Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast and to be the only milk depot in Eastern Massachusetts for women who want to make a difference in the lives of premature and sick babies whose mothers are unable to produce enough of their own milk,” says BID-Plymouth Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology Dr. Brigid McCue. “Donor milk can be lifesaving for preterm infants and can protect against a life-threatening condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which affects one in 10 of the smallest preterm infants. Donor breast milk is estimated to lower the risk of this condition by almost 80%,” adds McCue.

The BID-Plymouth BirthPlace milk depot, a donor milk collection site, is located in the BirthPlace at the hospital. Mothers from the South Shore and Cape Cod can drop off their milk conveniently at the depot for shipment to the Milk Bank.

“We encourage mothers who have milk to share to consider donating it. The presence of a milk depot on the South Shore will increase awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and donating milk. Donor mothers find the experience of donating very special, and we hope that the depot at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth will provide an opportunity for mothers to network with one another about this unique, lifesaving gift,” says Naomi Bar-Yam, PhD, Executive Director of MMBNE.

Milk donor screening, modeled after blood donor screening, includes a health history, physician approval, and blood test. This is one of several measures taken to assure the safety of milk for the fragile premature and sick babies served by MMBNE and the hospitals who use the milk.

The BID-Plymouth milk depot was made possible through the generous support of The Jordan Hospital Club.

How to Donate

Mothers who wish to donate milk can review guidelines on the Milk Bank website, www.milkbankne.org/donate, and then contact a Donor Intake Coordinator for screening at 617-527-6263 x3 or donate@milkbankne.org. Approved donors can then drop off milk at the new depot at BID-Plymouth weekdays from 1 pm to 4 pm, or by appointment at 508-830-2230 and ask for Dr. McCue.