Introducing the University of California Health Milk Bank
November 24, 2020 •
On Thursday, Nov. 19, University of California Health (UCH) launched an innovative mothers’ milk bank to help improve the lives of newborns, infants and their families. The UCH Milk Bank, operated by UC San Diego Health, is only the second one in California to be accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and is the only milk bank in the nation that is part of a health care system.
“A mothers’ milk bank is such an important resource for our communities. Mother’s milk is critical for the growth and development of infants, and it protects them from infection. Having mother’s milk is an investment in the long-term health of these very fragile infants,” said Dr. Carrie L. Byington, executive vice president of University of California Health (UCH) and a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist. “This is just the kind of innovation our academic health system can undertake to support the health of infants. In addition to providing a lifeline through donated breast milk to babies in need, we will also educate, support and empower families about infant nutrition.”
Read the full story at UCnet and, watch a video here:
Tags: milk bank, University of California Health
I love this! As a gay dads family who adopted two foster newborns, we were so lucky to find community members that donated their milk to us. This new resource can take the worry and complication out of accessing life’s elixir. Bravo!