Boca Raton Regional Hospital has joined forces with Mothers’ Milk
Bank of Florida (MMBFL) as a participating member to receive Pasteurized
Donor Human Milk (PDHM) used to treat premature and critically ill babies.
Mothers of premature infants are often unable to provide them with their
own breast milk due to illness, medications or other complications. PDHM
then becomes the best option.
This milk is urgently needed and the mission of MMBFL is to ensure this
life-saving resource is available for babies in need. Boca Regional’s
Toppel Family Place will serve as a milk depot for interested donors who qualify.
Potential donors must provide a complete medical and lifestyle history
and undergo blood tests similar to the screening process used at blood
banks before being assigned a donor number. Women interested in qualifying
as a donor should call MMBFL at 407.248.5050 to determine their eligibility.
Donated milk is then tested for bacteria and level of nutrients and pasteurized
to kill any bacteria or viruses. Before the pasteurized milk is dispensed,
bacteriological testing is done to ensure its safety.
“We are excited to be partnering with Mothers’ Milk Bank of
Florida on this very important cause,” said Karen Edlington, Director
of Toppel Family Place. “By opening our doors to potential donors
we hope to increase the supply of human milk for babies in need and continue
our commitment to educating the community about the benefits of breast
feeding.”
One in eight babies is born prematurely each year in Florida. Premature
birth is a leading cause of infant deaths and human milk has unique properties
that cannot be reproduced in commercial formula. Human milk also helps
a baby build a strong immune system, fight infection and is more easily
digested than commercial formula.
“The potent benefits of human milk are such that all preterm infants
should receive human milk,” said the American Academy of Pediatrics
in its policy statement on breastfeeding and use of human milk.
Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida is a member of and adheres to the
guidelines set forth by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America
and is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2011.
The milk that is collected is obtained by prescription. To learn more
about milk banking you can visit the MMBFL’s website at
www.milkbankofflorida.org.
Qualified donors can call Toppel Family Place at 561.955.5415 to schedule
an appointment with a lactation consultant Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
between the hours of 9am and 3pm.
Once again, only those donors who already have completed the qualification
process and been assigned a donor number can call this number and schedule
an appointment.
About Boca Raton Regional Hospital – Advancing the boundaries of medicine.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an advanced, tertiary medical center
(BRRH.com)
with 400 beds and more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff.
The Hospital is a recognized leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease
and surgery, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, women’s health,
emergency medicine and the neurosciences, all of which offer state-of-the-art
diagnostic and imaging capabilities. The Hospital is a designated Comprehensive
Stroke Center by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished
Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ for 10 years running and
was named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2011, 2012, 2013
and 2014, both by Healthgrades®. Boca Raton Regional Hospital was
also recognized in
U.S. News & World Report’s
2015–2016 Best Hospitals listing as a top-ranked hospital in the
South Florida metropolitan area for the fourth time in the last five years.
Media Contact:
Andy Kent, 561.955.4706 (o)
239.253.8896 (c)
Boca Raton Regional Hospital
akent@brrh.com