CINCINNATI (November 27, 2023) – The Christ Hospital Health Network celebrates the grand opening of two new breastmilk donation locations at the Mt. Auburn campus and the Liberty Township Birthing Center. Both sites will open on Tuesday, Nov. 28 and will house a freezer to store donated human milk, from approved donors, which will be transferred to the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank in Columbus.
The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, under the guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), provides pasteurized human milk to those infants whose mothers are unable to provide milk to nourish their babies. It is one of just 32 milk banks in North America.
“Partnering with the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank will ensure mothers across Ohio receive the precious gift of donated breastmilk for their infant children,” said Beth Vonluehrte, Lactation Program Coordinator of The Christ Hospital “Many of our patients have benefited from this collaboration and now, for the first time, mothers can make a difference in the lives of countless babies that need the nutrition from beneficial breastmilk. We are thrilled to expand easy access to donations right here in the greater Cincinnati region.”
The Christ Hospital Health Network sites mark the 24th & 25th OhioHealth milk drop location in Ohio and the only Cincinnati hospital-based location. The donated milk will be distributed throughout North America to babies in need.
“We are thrilled to be opening this new milk drop to make donating even easier,” said Chris Smith, RN, IBCLC, outreach coordinator and lactation consultant at the milk bank. “It’s because of our growing relationship with The Christ Hospital Health Network that we are expanding our commitment to current NICU and newborn babies in the region. With these new milk drops, approved donors in and around Cincinnati can conveniently donate their milk. Pasteurized donor milk is liquid gold for babies who need it.”
In 2022 alone, The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank distributed 3,515 gallons of milk to hospitals in 11 states. Just one ounce can feed a premature infant for three days. To become a human milk donor, mothers must take part in a screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk. This process includes a phone screening to verify eligibility, completion of a medical and lifestyle history review, a signed medical release from the donor and physician and consent to receive a blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis. The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen and distributed by physician prescription.
For more information on the benefits of breast milk, how to become a breastmilk donor and the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, click here.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region, named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2023. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience.
About OhioHealth
Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church. Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 12 hospitals, 200+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 47-county area. It has been recognized by FORTUNE as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” 15 times since 2007. OhioHealth hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital and OhioHealth Berger Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.