Benefits of donor milk
Breast milk provides optimal nutrition, easy digestibility, growth factors, immunologic protection and infection-fighting components to newborn babies. Donated breast milk is especially helpful to babies who are ill or born prematurely. All donated milk is processed by a certified mothers milk bank and then used to supplement infants whose mothers are unable to produce enough milk.
Women are screened prior to donating and the milk is again tested after processing to ensure its safety.
We proudly work with Northwest Mothers Milk Bank in Portland and use local milk for our local babies.
How to donate
Call the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank 1-800-204-4444 for a brief verbal medical history review.
Complete and return the screening forms sent to you; the milk bank will then send you a donor ID number.
Go to the lab in Redmond or Bend for a free blood draw. Take your donor number with you.
Contact St. Charles lactation services for information about how and when to drop off your frozen breast milk.
You can drop off your frozen milk at St. Charles in Bend. After the initial donation, you can drop off milk without any further paperwork or testing. Remember to call first for all milk donations to make sure we have a staff person available and room in our freezer.
For more information, call 541-706-4924 in Bend.
