HCA Florida North Florida Hospital announces new Breast Milk Donation Program through the Mother's Milk Bank of Florida

HCA Florida North Florida Hospital announced a new partnership with the Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida to provide a breast milk donation program for mothers in our area who have an abundance of breast milk and would like to donate their extra milk to babies in need. As every mother who has breastfed knows, every drop of breast milk is precious. Breast milk provides babies with ideal nutrition, supports growth and development, and helps protect babies against certain illnesses and diseases.  But sometimes, mothers are unable to produce enough breast milk or are unable to nurse. The Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida is a non-profit organization that collects, processes, pasteurizes and dispenses donor breast milk to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) babies and other medically needy infants in our state.

 Eligible breast milk donors are healthy women who produce more milk than needed to feed their own infants. Instead of discarding this milk, eligible donors will be able to freeze and voluntarily donate their milk through this new program. The HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Breast Milk Donation Program will ensure donations are properly frozen and stored until collection from the Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida.

 Those interested in participating should follow these steps to become an approved donor:

• Call the Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida at 407.248.5050 for a short telephone interview.
• Complete a secure online health questionnaire.
• Give the Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida permission to contact healthcare providers.
• Complete a free blood screening.
• Drop off frozen breast milk at the HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Breast Milk Donation Program, located in the North Florida Medical Arts Building: 6400 W Newberry Road, Suite 107, Gainesville, FL 32605.

The HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Breast Milk Donation Program is open for breast milk donation drop offs on Wednesdays from 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Thursdays from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Those interested can call 352.333.5314 or 352.333.5327 with additional questions.