Greenwich Hospital offers families the option to use pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM), for their newborns in the hospital. PDHM is used to supplement breastmilk that is not sufficiently available to newborns after delivery. Families are also able to purchase frozen donor milk to bring home to bridge the gap until their milk comes in.
Reasons PDHM may be recommended:
- Not enough milk is being produced (delayed lactogenesis)
- Baby is experiencing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Baby is small for gestational age and/or has weight loss greater than 10%
- Birthing person and newborn are separated
- Baby is born early or late pre-term
- Baby develops jaundice
Benefits of human milk for babies:
- Enhanced immunity (the ability to fight off infections)
- Protection against allergies and perhaps certain diseases such as diabetes and obesity later in life
- Easier digestion compared to formula
It is recommended that individuals who have given birth continue to pump or hand express milk each time their baby receives a PDHM feeding.
The PDHM used by Greenwich Hospital is obtained from Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, which follows strict screening, processing and dispensing guidelines established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, and the blood and tissue banking industries.
Safety steps for screening potential donors include:
- Oral and written medical and lifestyle history
- Physician confirmation of donor’s health
- Blood tests to detect HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B and C and syphilis
- Prescription, over-the-counter, herbal and mega-dose vitamins are reasons to eliminate a donor
If you have further questions, please contact your doctor, nurse or lactation specialist.
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