Peaceful Birthing Doula Services opens first human milk depot and dispensary in Bloomingdale
Peaceful Birthing Doula Services in Bloomingdale has partnered with Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (Milk Bank WGL) to house a new drop-off site for local milk donors, which will help support the complex nutritional needs of sick and premature babies in Illinois and Wisconsin.
As a milk depot, Peaceful Birthing Doula Services will store and collect human milk donations from healthy, lactating women who are approved donors through Milk Bank WGL. The donations are then sent to the milk bank, where they are pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria. After pasteurization, the milk is tested once again for safety and distributed to hospitals and outpatients. Rigorous safety protocols ensure donor milk is safe.
Peaceful Birthing Doula Services received its first donation on Dec. 16, 2021. It was an exciting moment for Tunisia Macklin, CD. "This is the most amazing feeling, being a part of a milk bank," said Macklin, doula and owner of Peaceful Birthing Doula Services. Since opening, milk continues to come into the depot.
"Milk donors are superheroes because they save tiny lives. When mother's own milk is not available, donor milk is given to premature babies to reduce the risk of a dangerous disease called necrotizing enterocolitis. Donor milk is also provided to pediatric outpatients in the home setting," said Summer Kelly, Milk Bank WGL's executive director.
The site will also serve as a dispensary, where families can purchase pasteurized donor human milk. Donor milk is an important nutritional therapy for many at-risk babies. It provides numerous benefits in the absence of mother's milk, including infection-fighting factors, growth hormones, and improved nutrition and digestion. Donor milk can be used when the mother has a low milk supply, is ill or on certain medications, or in cases of adoption or surrogacy.
In addition to being a donor milk advocate, Peaceful Birthing Doula Services supports mothers and families with doula support, massage therapy, and women's health and wellness herbalism. More information can be found at www.peacefulbirthingdoula.com.
Approved donors and families interested in purchasing donor milk can access Peaceful Birthing Doula between the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The site is closed on Mondays and Sundays. Donors should contact the center at (630) 635-2189 prior to dropping off milk donations. Peaceful Birthing Doula Services is located at 201 East Army Trail Road, Suite 307 in Bloomingdale.
Moms who are interested in becoming a donor through Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lake can visit the milk bank's website at www.milkbankwgl.org.