Mothers Milk Bank Of Mississippi

Programs: Milk processing:during 2017, mothers' milk bank of mississippi increased processing of human donor milk. The bank received 76,179 ounces in 2017, compared to 55,471 ounces in 2016. This represents an increase of 37%. The bank dispensed 38,494 ounces in 2016, and 44,169 ounces in 2017. Although this was only a 15% increase overall, all orders were filled, including those from four added client hospitals. The increase in pasteurization volume necessitated the purchase of additional equipment, such as freezers, a dishwasher and a washer and dryer. The increase in volume also allowed the hiring of 2 pasteurization technicians and a donor program coordinator. Having a person dedicated to this job improved the efficiency of donor mom screening and approval, thus increasing the total number of donor moms approved over the previous year. By mid-2017, the bank had screened and processed an adequate supply of milk to fill its own orders and share milk with other milk banks. The bank screened 127 donor moms in 2017, compared to 61 in 2016; an increase of 108%. In 2017, the bank added additional hospital clients: delta regional medical center (greenville, ms) in august, memorial hospital of gulfport in october, and merit health - central (jackson, ms) in december. The bank was able to ship 203 ounces of milk to sacred heart hospital in pensacola, fl, in september when the aftermath of hurricane irma prevented the mothers' milk bank of florida from being able to meet that need. In november, the bank opened the new depot at anderson regional medical center in meridian, which was covered by both the local newspaper and television stations.

community outreach and education:staff from mothers' milk bank of mississippi attended and/or exhibited at the washington county health department baby cafe lunch and learn for moms in april, the momfest in hattiesburg in june, the south mississippi baby and child expo in biloxi in august, the baptist healthsystem nicu reunion in august, a lunch and learn program for mother-baby staff at anderson regional medical center in meridian in september, the flowood health and wellness expo in october, and the mississippi perinatal association meeting in november. In may, with the support of the community foundation of greater jackson, a donor mom appreciation brunch was held to thank the donor mothers who make the bank's work possible. On october 25, the bank presented a champs wednesday webinar on how milk banking works, with over 25 participants calling in from throughout the state. Other healthcare providers visited the bank's facility throughout the year, providing additional opportunities for educational interaction. All five fellows in the neonatology program at the university of mississippi medical center (a champs hospital which achieved baby-friendly designation during 2017) were required to observe at least once with the bank and offered the chance to scrub in and assist with milk pooling and pasteurization under the supervision of trained staff. They had the opportunity to learn in detail about how human donor milk is sourced, screened, pooled to insure more uniform nutrient content, analyzed to determine specific caloric and nutrient content, cultured to insure safety, and dispensed and shipped to client hospitals. Concomitantly, these fellows conducted a project to demonstrate that increased support of nicu mothers' pumping efforts results in increases of mothers' own milk production and availability for their premature infants. That study was presented as a research poster at the 2017 academy of breastfeeding medicine international meeting in atlanta in november. Approximately 15 nicu nurses from ummc also volunteered at least once, and 10 student nurses from mississippi college school of nursing volunteered. The bank also hosted staff from two other milk banks (northwest mothers' milk bank at portland, oregon and the developing mothers' milk bank of louisiana at ochsner baptist in new orleans) for educational tours.