Marian Regional Medical Center expands its donor milk program

Newborns delivering at Marian Regional will have access to human donor milk

Marian Regional Medical Center has been busy celebrating National Breastfeeding Month by expanding its donor milk program to all newborns delivered at the hospital.

Previously, the human donor milk program was only offered to families who had newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Marian Regional. 

“This program can help mothers bridge the gap,” says Lisa Shuffield, an Assistant Nursing Manager and Lactation Educator with Dignity Health. “Whether they’re struggling with breastfeeding or something happens during their labor or delivery that can impact breastfeeding, we are able to supplement them with the healthy benefits of breastmilk. This is a project we have been working on for years and years.”

Shuffield added that worries over feeding a newborn are common in the labor and delivery unit. The program can help put families at ease knowing there are options to keep their baby fed.

“We have a very large population of our patients, I would say between 80 to 90 percent, who come in feeling like they don’t have enough milk,” Shuffield said. “Some may not recognize colostrum as milk. So for them to feel like there’s something else available – that is safe – is very helpful to help them get on track and be able to build their milk supply by the time they go home. We want everyone to feel more comfortable about their breast feeding goal.”

Added Shuffield: “There are studies that show that using donor milk in these situations can help them breastfeed for a longer period of time throughout their breastfeeding journey.”

Shuffield says Marian Regional has partnered with a major milk bank in San Jose to meet its needs at the hospital. 

“The donors to the program are all tested rigorously before they’re accepted and the milk is pasteurized before it’s sent out to the community that it goes to,” Shuffield says of the San Jose milk bank.

Shuffield hopes that, at some point soon, the hospital will also become a donor site.  Allowing local mothers to donate milk will let the local community not only receive, but also to give back to families in need of this precious commodity. 

“We hope to get to a point where people can donate and we can return the favor to San Jose,” she said. “That will be down the road a little bit.”

The donor milk program at Marian aligns with Dignity Health’s breastfeeding support initiatives. Dignity Health follows the latest scientific recommendations and stands by six guiding principles:

Promote breastfeeding for its health benefits. Dignity Health believes that human milk is the most natural way to nourish an infant. Babies who drink only breast milk have a lower risk of health problems, including ear infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and heart disease later in life.

1. Foster skin-to-skin contact for improved well-being. Research shows that early skin-to-skin contact is ideal for introducing babies to breastfeeding and their new surroundings. Keeping mothers and babies together during the hospital stay also creates bonding opportunities. Dignity Health supports keeping mothers and babies together unless separation is medically necessary.
2. Extend feeding support beyond breastfeeding. While human milk is the best source of nutrition for infants, we fully support parents who may need to complement breastfeeding with donated human milk or infant formula.
3. Provide human milk to premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Many NICU parents are overwhelmed and need special support to feed their infants. Dignity Health nurses and breastfeeding support staff educate families on how to use breast pumps and feed expressed human milk correctly.
4. Teach, empower and support parents. Dignity Health staff provides lactation support and education to help families meet their goals and feel confident in feeding their baby. Parents who know how to breastfeed and feel comfortable breastfeeding are more likely to succeed.
5. Build a strong breastfeeding foundation. Support, knowledge and practice are essential for successful breastfeeding beyond the hospital walls. As families prepare to leave the hospital, Dignity Health staff ensures they have the necessary local resources and information to continue their journey with confidence.

To learn more about breastfeeding support services at Marian Regional Medical Center, click here.

Shown in photo: First family to use expaned donor milk program.