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| August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to highlight the many health benefits of breastfeeding, not just for babies, but for mothers as well. Breast milk is especially critical for premature and critically ill infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), where it can be lifesaving.
Since 2022, Broward Health Coral Springs has proudly served as the only Breast Milk Bank Depot in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, supporting the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida. The depot allows approved donor moms to drop off their excess breast milk, which is stored in hospital-grade freezers before being transported to the central milk bank located in Orlando. This initiative plays a vital role in ensuring that fragile newborns, especially those in NICUs, have access to the nutrients they need to survive and thrive. Since its launch, the depot has collected over 42,000 ounces of breast milk, a remarkable 40% increase year over year. We have new moms drive as far as Doral to donate milk because they understand the benefits for tiny babies in the NICU. Why it matters: According to the CDC, approximately 14% of babies in Florida are born prematurely. For these infants, donor breast milk is more than nourishment—it can help prevent deadly complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gastrointestinal condition with a 50% mortality rate. |
Interview Opportunity:
Nichole Salisbury, R.N., IBCLC, an international board-certified lactation consultant at Broward Health Coral Springs, is available on Zoom or in person in Coral Springs to discuss:
- Free in-person and online breastfeeding support groups
- The benefits of breastfeeding for moms and babies
- How the Milk Bank Depot works and how local moms can become approved donors
- Broward Health’s free prenatal classes, offered primarily online for convenience
For more information, visit:
browardhealth.org/news/020722-milk-depot
https://www.browardhealth.org/events/events-search?eventType=Breastfeeding&sort=StartDateAsc
