OhioHealth seeking breast milk donations amid shortage

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Breast milk is often considered a vital lifeline for premature babies and staff members with OhioHealth are sounding the alarm and asking for donations to help restock the freezers at the Mothers’ Milk Bank.

Leaders with the milk bank said the increase in need has not caught up with donations, leaving them with what they consider a critical need.

“It really is lifesaving for premature babies,” Outreach and Operations Coordinator for the Mother’s Milk Bank Chris Smith said. “It’s like a blood donation for a trauma patient. It’s vital.”

Smith said the number of donations coming in from women like Grace Mason has not kept up with a growing demand.

“We dispensed over 40,000 ounces of milk, which was a record high for us,” Smith said. “Because of that, we have used all of our resources. We have used all of our supply, all of the stash that we used in the freezer.”

OhioHealth’s milk bank is the only one in the state and currently provides donor milk to 77 hospitals in nine states.

“Now with the shortage that we have, babies are being taken off of donor milk sooner rather than later to try and conserve our supply,” Smith said.

Staff members said the process to become a donor is easy and requires a brief phone interview, written health history, and blood work at no cost to the donor. For Mason, who has donated enough breast milk to feed 6,000 infants, she’s hoping others join her in wanting to help.

“It’s a nice feeling to be able to do a little extra,” Mason said.

Anyone wanting to become a donor can find more information by clicking here.