Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital opens Mothers' Milk Depot drop-off

Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital and Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes are partnering to bring a new human milk drop-off depot to Geneva.

This joint effort increases access for approved donors and families in the area to donate lifesaving nutrition for pediatric patients in need.

The Northwestern Medicine Delnor Milk Depot is the only operating human milk collection site in Kane County.

"We're thrilled to bring such an important service to Delnor Hospital," said Meg Pittard, program manager of perinatal services at Delnor Hospital. "Donated milk is a necessity for babies both in the hospital and at home when a parent's milk is not available. This new depot will make it easier for community members to donate an important resource."

Milk donations are from healthy, lactating women who are screened and approved as donors through Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes.

Upon collection, donations are transported to the milk bank's processing facility in Elk Grove Village, where the milk is pasteurized to eliminate viruses and bacteria.

The pasteurized milk is tested by a third-party lab and distributed to hospitals and outpatients in Illinois and Wisconsin.

"As part of our mission to make safe, pasteurized donor human milk more accessible to babies in Illinois and Wisconsin, we are delighted to be partnering with Delnor Hospital," said Amber Barnes BSN, RNC-NIC, IBCLC, clinical manager, Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. "The new milk depot program will provide approved donors with a local drop-off point.

"Their lactation program offers comprehensive, skilled, and supportive care to their patients, and this convenient drop-off location provides an additional resource to them," Barnes said.

Approved donors can typically access the Northwestern Medicine Delnor Milk Depot Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Before dropping off milk donations, call (630) 938-8878 to schedule a drop-off time with a lactation consultant.

Individuals interested in donating through Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes can visit www.milkbankwgl.org.