Breastmilk Donation Site Now Available in Winter Haven

Winter Haven, Fla., (April 4, 2016) – Donating breastmilk just became easier for moms in Polk County. Winter Haven Women’s Hospital is now a breastmilk depot. As a depot, WHWH can receive donations from moms in the community who want to donate their extra breastmilk.

“Human milk is recommended as the ideal nutrition for all newborns and especially for sick or premature infants,” said Jennifer Richards, director of patient care services at Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. “Many mothers of premature or ill babies are unable to provide enough of their own milk at first, so donor milk becomes vitally important.”

WHWH is partnering with the non-profit Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida, located in Orlando, to offer this convenient breastmilk depot to the community. Moms who have been screened by Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida can now bring their frozen breastmilk to the WHWH depot, where it is temporarily stored in a freezer. The breastmilk is then sent to the milk bank in Orlando where it is pasteurized and processed. This process ensures the safety of all donated breastmilk.

“As a breastmilk depot, WHWH is making the process more convenient for mothers, and removing some of the barriers in the donation process,” said Jennifer. “WHWH is the first breastmilk depot in Polk County and the first within BayCare for the non-profit organization, Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida.”

The Winter Haven Hospital Foundation provided the funds to purchase the freezer for the WHWH breastmilk depot.

“The Winter Haven Hospital Foundation is proud to support such a worthwhile initiative,” said Holly Worrell, Foundation Director of Annual Giving. “The Foundation looks forward to supporting additional aspects of the Winter Haven Women’s Hospital breastmilk depot in future endeavors.”

There is no cost to donate breastmilk. The Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida will supply mothers with milk collection bags to use when pumping and collecting milk. The breastmilk depot is given an insulated cooler and box from the Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida. Donors should be in excellent health and with a baby no older than one year old.

Milk donors can call the breastfeeding helpline at (863) 294-7068 to coordinate a time to bring milk donations to Winter Haven Women’s Hospital.

The milk depot enhances WHWH’s inpatient and outpatient lactation services, which includes International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, on-site consultations, a breastfeeding helpline, lactation store and breast pump rentals. WHWH offers a comfortable and supportive environment where breastfeeding families can discuss their goals and concerns and receive ongoing assistance. 

The Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida, located in Orlando, is accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. If you are a mom interested in donating breastmilk, call Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida at (407) 248-5050 to begin the screening process or visit MilkBankofFlorida.org for more information.

About Winter Haven Women’s Hospital

Built in 1987, Winter Haven Women’s Hospital (formerly the Regency Center for Women and Infants) is a 61-bed facility accredited by the Joint Commission. Located at 101 Ave. O S.E. in Winter Haven, Florida, the hospital is dedicated to the unique needs of women and newborns by providing on-site obstetric services 24 hours a day/7 days a week, a level II neonatal intensive care unit, education classes, an outpatient surgery center and a Breast and Imaging Center.

Winter Haven Hospital and Winter Haven Women’s Hospital joined BayCare Health System in 2013. For more information, call (863) 294-7010 or visit WinterHavenWomensHospital.org

About the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation

The Winter Haven Hospital Foundation, Inc. is an independent, Winter Haven based,not-for-profit charitable institution governed by a board of volunteer trustees who serve without pay. The Foundation cultivates philanthropic support to provide patients with state-of-the-art medical care, cutting-edge technology and equipment, and the best educated and trained personnel. All funds raised are retained locally and utilized to support the not-for-profit patient care mission of Winter Haven Hospital. For more information, call (863) 292-4138 or visit www.whhfoundation.org

About BayCare

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care.  For more information visit www.baycare.org

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