Breastmilk Donation Location

Skagit Valley Hospital's Family Birth Center is an official Milk Drop location, in partnership with Northwest Mothers Milk Bank (NWMMB).

Frozen milk donations from approved donors are accepted every Tuesday from 2 – 4 p.m.

What is a Milk Drop location?

Milk Drops are convenient locations throughout the Pacific Northwest where approved donors can drop off their breast milk donations. Drop sites keep the milk frozen and safe until transferred to NWMMB in Tigard, OR. The human donor milk is then pasteurized and dispensed to hospitals and families throughout Oregon, Washington, Alaska and beyond.

Why is donor milk important?

Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. Rich in nutrients and antibodies, breastmilk protects an infant from developing infections, allergies and long-term health complications. A mother’s own breastmilk is always the best for her baby, but sometimes a mother’s milk is not 100% available. Evidence-based research shows the use of human donor milk from an accredited milk bank should be the standard of care for supplementation of hospitalized premature and ill newborns, particularly those in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). An exclusive human milk diet for all infants is proven to provide the essential nutrients and immunological protection necessary for optimal growth and improved long-term health.  

Why did Skagit Valley Hospital become a Milk Drop location?

The primary focus is on providing milk to vulnerable populations. One in eight infants in the Pacific Northwest is born premature. Prematurity puts an infant at risk for life-threatening infections, prolonged hospital admission and lifelong disabilities.

Breast milk donations are primarily used in hospitals to feed sick and premature infants. Human milk is thought to be a therapeutic product to help sick infants grow and prevent health-related complications, particularly in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract. There is currently a high demand for pasteurized breast milk in the Northwest.

Breastfeeding rates in the Pacific Northwest are among the highest in the nation. High breastfeeding rates and a positive breastfeeding culture are essential foundations for a thriving community milk bank, making Skagit Valley Hospital an ideal host for Milk Drop. It will also help give local parents with excess breastmilk the opportunity to make a significant difference by helping another infant receive the best start in life.

Who is eligible to become a donor?

To become a donor, eligible women must complete the Donor Screening process with NWMMB. To learn more about eligibility requirements and the screening process, visit https://www.donatemilk.org/donate-milk. 

Skagit Valley Hospital is excited to be a Milk Drop location and, with our community, help fulfill the high demand for breast milk in the Pacific Northwest. If you have any questions about this program, you can visit https://www.donatemilk.org/ or call our team at 360-428-BABY(2229).