Winneshiek Medical Center is now collection location for the Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa.

(Left to right): WMC director of inpatient services Dawn Sanderman, WMC nurse Bethany Loyd, Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa director Jean Drulis, WMC lactation consultant Denise Duffy and WMC obstetrics nursing unit supervisor Connie Klimesh

Winneshiek Medical Center Obstetrics is now a drop off/collection depot location for the Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa.

MMBI uses human milk to reach hospitalized premature infants, infants born with immune system defects, insufficient milk supply, adopted infants and those mothers experiencing an illness requiring a break from breast feeding.

WMC can accept donor milk only after the individual has completed the appropriate screening with Mother's Milk Bank. After women have been approved to be donors, they may drop off their milk at the WMC milk depot (located in the OB department) any day of the week, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The milk is frozen and collected by the Mother's Milk Bank, where it is pasteurized and pooled together, frozen and stored until prescribed by a physician for an infant. Donors must be non-smoking, not taking any medications (with a few exceptions), willing to donate a minimum of 200 ounces over the entire lactation time and having not consumed alcohol 12 hours before pumping the donated milk. The milk they donate must be dated, collected under sanitary conditions and frozen within the last 48 hours of pumping.

If you wish to order or be prescribed donor human milk please contact the MMBI at 319-356-2652.

To become a donor please contact the MMBI by calling their toll free number 877-891-5347 or visiting http://www.uichildrens.org/milk-donor-information for more information.