North Carolina expands donor milk program with depot in Jackson County, other locations

Press release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services:

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a significant expansion of the North Carolina Human Donor Milk Program, adding five new donor depots across the state. This initiative, led by the NCDHHS Division of Public Health in partnership with WakeMed, aims to enhance the availability of pasteurized human donor milk to support the health and well-being of infants, particularly those who are premature or medically fragile.

“This expansion is a testament to our commitment to ensuring all infants in North Carolina have access to the nourishment they need to thrive,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Acting Director of the NCDHHS Division of Public Health. “Increasing the availability of donor milk is another step toward improving health outcomes for our most vulnerable infants.”

Pasteurized human donor milk (PHDM) is a vital resource used in hospitals to reduce the risk of serious illnesses such as necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal disease that can be fatal for premature or low-birth-weight infants. PHDM also helps bridge the gap until a mother’s milk supply is established, promoting longer exclusive breastfeeding.

The primary goal of this initiative is to ensure equitable access to pasteurized human donor milk for all families in North Carolina when medically necessary. By providing a fair distribution of resources, we can help support individuals with insufficient human milk production.

“Pasteurized human donor milk provides life sustaining nutrition to hospitalized infants in need,” said Kerrie Gottschall, MSN, RN, Manager of Mothers’ Milk Bank at WakeMed Health & Hospitals. “WakeMed Cary Mothers’ Milk Bank is so thankful to our partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health for helping us set up and establish five new depot sites, which allows us to collect additional milk to help babies in need.”

The new donor depots are located in the following counties:

1. Cumberland County:

• LATCH Breastfeeding and Postpartum Wellness Center & Central Carolina Doulas
• 154 Bow St., Suite C, Fayetteville, NC 28301
• Milk drop-off hours by appointment only: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Phone: 910-849-9221
• Contact: Sarah Lester or Aida Algarin

2. Durham County:

• Carolina Birth and Wellness
• 5850 Fayetteville Road Suite 202, Durham, NC 27713
• Phone: (919) 480-1423
• Schedule a drop-off appointment online

3. Jackson County:

• Birthstone Breastfeeding & Wellness Center
• 494 W Main St., Sylva, NC 28779
• Phone: (828) 331-1592

4. Mecklenburg County:

• Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
• Novant Health Breastfeeding, “G” level Women’s Center, 200 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204
• Phone: (704) 384-7515

5. Pasquotank County:

• Sentara Albemarle Medical Center
• 1144 N Road St., Elizabeth City, NC 27909
• Phone: (252) 384-4348

In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month this August, health officials encourage all mothers to consider the profound impact of breastfeeding and the vital role that donor milk can play in supporting infants’ health. By contributing to the donor milk program, they can help ensure all infants in North Carolina have access to the nourishment they need to thrive.

For more information or to get involved, please visit www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/womens/support-for-baby/mothers-milk-bank. All donors must be approved by the WakeMed Cary Mothers’ Milk Bank before donating and can access the approval process online.

Additional breastfeeding resources and information are available at BreastfeedNC.com.