Babies in need of extra nourishment in Fort Bend County now have access to help, as Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital opened the region’s first breast milk collection site on December 6. This new facility, operated by the non-profit Mothers’ Milk Bank Austin, is located within the Houston Methodist Childbirth Center at Sugar Land. The donated breast milk collected at this site is primarily given to premature or sick infants, but it also serves mothers who may not produce enough milk or are unable to lactate.
Theresa Walters, the manager of the center’s neonatal intensive care unit, expressed excitement about the new service, stating, We are thrilled and proud to offer this service to moms and babies in our community. We are dedicated to the health and growth of our smallest community members, and this is another impactful way we can meet their needs.
The milk depot is available to any lactating mother currently breastfeeding a child younger than one year old. To qualify as a donor, mothers must undergo a free screening process that involves a phone interview and blood work. There are no minimum or maximum donation amounts.
Representatives from Mothers’ Milk Bank Austin will make weekly visits to Sugar Land to collect the donations, with the frequency determined by the volume of donations received. Once collected, the milk will undergo screening and processing by Mothers’ Milk Bank Austin in Austin, Texas. Following processing, the milk will be distributed to hospitals, dispensaries, and outpatients across the country. In 2022, Mothers’ Milk Bank Austin supplied milk to 181 hospitals, two dispensaries, and 550 outpatients.
The establishment of the collection site has been a year-long project, according to Amanda Gamez, spokesperson for Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Nurse Hailey Stanford made the first donation by providing 1,740 ounces of breast milk she had accumulated over time, effectively filling the depot’s refrigerator.
Stanford expressed her enthusiasm for the new collection site, saying, When I first heard our Childbirth Center was going to become a milk collection site, I had two words for my boss: take it.
The opening of this milk depot marks a significant step in supporting the health and well-being of infants in Fort Bend County. It provides an accessible and reliable resource for babies in need of breast milk and offers lactating mothers an opportunity to contribute to the health of their community.
This initiative aligns with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality care for its patients, particularly the most vulnerable ones. By offering the option of donated breast milk, the hospital aims to ensure that all babies receive the crucial nutrition they require for healthy growth and development.
Fort Bend County residents can now take advantage of this valuable resource, knowing that the Houston Methodist Childbirth Center is dedicated to meeting the needs of its youngest community members.
