Sara Cantwell

Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin

The Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin saves babies' lives by providing prescribed donor human milk. One in eight babies is born preterm--human milk is especially important for these premature or sick babies, who are at 10 times the risk for devastating intestinal infections if they are fed formula instead of human milk. The Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin follow strict screening, processing, and testing guidelines to ensure that banked human milk is safe. They select potential donors using a multi-step screening process similar to that used at blood banks. After being collected, donated milk is pooled and pasteurized to kill any bacteria or viruses. Milk bank donors are healthy, conscientious women who care about the health of babies. They are most often nursing their own infants, have an abundant milk supply, and donate their extra milk to the Milk Bank. For this generous act they receive no payment or compensation, except the satisfaction that comes from knowing they have helped improve the health of a fragile baby.