CINCINNATI (May 19, 2026) – Today marks World Human Milk Donation Day and this year, The Christ Hospital Health Network celebrates a groundbreaking achievement. The Liberty Birthing Center, in partnership with the Ohio Milk Bank, is now a Breast Milk Dispensary. Mothers with babies that need pasteurized donor breast milk as a bridge until their own milk comes in can now purchase pasteurized donor milk.
Patients at The Christ Hospital will need a written prescription from their infant’s physician. This marks the first Breast Milk Dispensary in the Cincinnati-area with the goal of expanding to serve the entire community. 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.
“We are thrilled to be Cincinnati’s only location for new moms to get safe, pasteurized donor milk for their infants as they navigate motherhood,” said Charla Payne, Clinical Nursing Director of the Women’s Service Line at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Many of our patients have benefited from this collaboration and now, for the first time, mothers can get much needed nutrition from beneficial breastmilk.”
In 2023, The Christ Hospital Health Network opened donation sites at both the Mt. Auburn and Liberty Township Birthing Centers as the 24th & 25th OhioHealth milk drop locations in Ohio and the only Cincinnati hospital-based location.
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 137 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and more than 7,800 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 2026.