NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank urgently looking for Alberta donors

They’ve been in operation for over 14 years and said donor milk is the gold standard when maternal milk isn’t available.

The primary recipients of the milk are babies in hospital, including those born prematurely or who possibly have a medical condition. They are typically at risk for complications if supplemented with formula, and when it comes to premature babies, the mother’s milk isn’t usually ready.

“That’s where donor milk really shines. It’s there to feed the baby, provide that nutrition, but also provide those components that are present naturally in human milk, such as antibodies, hormones, and human milk oligosaccharides, which we know are essential for establishing a gut microbiome,” she said.

“Basically, human milk in the early days we believe contributes to positive health outcomes throughout childhood and later in life as well.”

Gersbach said mothers typically decide to donate after they recently had a baby of their own and are producing extra milk.

“They don’t lactate forever, so we ask that milk come in during that first one to one and a half years postpartum. After that time, the mom is usually weaning her baby and not producing as much milk. We are constantly needing to recruit more donors and collect more raw inventory because donors are turning over,” Gersbach said.

“The benefits of donor milk have made it a bit more in demand than previously, so every year we’re seeing year over year growth in the amount of demand for milk… Over the past six months we’ve seen a decline in donors so that’s why we’re trying to boost our donor supply this fall so we have a solid supply going into the winter months.”

Mother’s hoping to donate can drop off milk at the Johnstone Crossing Community Health Centre in Red Deer.

To do that, donors must go through a screening process to acquire a donor ID, which proves they’re approved to donate. The screening process can be done over the phone or by email.

She described it as a straightforward process that begins with an intake form that can be filled out on their website. Their team will then reach out by phone to conduct a 15-minute screening where they go over lifestyle and health history. The candidate is then sent a package that includes a blood requisition, a form for their doctor to fill out, and a written questionnaire.

The milk is then picked up by a truck and taken to Calgary, where it is processed and shipped out to hospitals that apply for milk donations. In Red Deer, the hospital puts in orders regularly. Gersbach said they ship to Red Deer every few weeks.

“Right now we are urgently seeking milk donors but are continuing to meet demand,” Gersbach said. “If milk donors continue to decline, then we basically have to start limiting the milk. Our mandate is that we’ll always provide milk to the sickest, most fragile babies first.”

by Ian Gustafson

NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank urgently looking for Alberta donors

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