A pair of new milk depots in Kamloops and Kelowna hope to make it easier for people who want to donate milk to mothers and babies in need.

The depots – which opened this month – will be at the Kamloops Health Unit and the Community Health Centre in Kelowna.

Interior Health’s Maternal, Newborn, Child & Youth Network Director Rob Finch says breast milk is often in high demand especially for premature or sick babies. He notes potential donors will be pre-screened and the donated milk will be pasteurized and then distributed to hospitals throughout B.C.

“They would pump, freeze, and then bring it in,” he said. “And then it would be handled, and stored at the sites in Kamloops and Kelowna, until there was enough quantity to send down via courier to the BC Women’s milk bank.”

Finch adds Breastfeeding Matters in Kamloops and Okanagan Breastfeeding in Kelowna, have both been lobbying for the two new depots for the past several years. The two new collection depots are part of a provincial network of milk depots, of which there are 28 in total.

“Screened and pasteurized donor human milk is often in high demand at hospitals across the province for premature or sick  infants,” Finch added. “While a mother’s own milk is always the first choice, pasteurized donor human milk is extremely beneficial for at-risk newborns, such as those born prematurely.”

In the past, breastfeeding mothers across Interior Health have usually donated milk at milk bank drives. These two depots are expected to make it easier for people to become donors, allowing them to donate more frequently.

“Two new milk depots for Kelowna and Kamloops will help infants in the very first, fragile stages of their lives, and are incredibly important for those first few days,” added Health Minister Adrian Dix. “I am proud of Interior Health for making this happen and thank the selfless donors who provide milk to meet the ever-growing demand.”

For information contact call 604-875-3743 or visit bcwomens.ca and search ‘milk bank.’