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WCMY file photo of the first human mothers' milk at the former Illinois Valley Community Hospital's milk bank depot when it opened in 2019

Moms helping moms with breast milk donations during baby formula shortage

By WCMY News May 23, 2022 | 4:09 AM

Moms who’ve been saving their own breast milk but whose babies are done consuming it can donate it to help ease the baby formula shortage. OSF Certified Lactation Counselor Kelly Hert says, depending on how cold it was frozen to, it can be good for up to a year. The Mothers Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes can pasteurize it and distribute it to other moms.

Hert recommends not giving the milk directly to another mom. Medicine you took and things you ate that another baby could be allergic to could cause problems. The milk bank tests what it gets before distributing it.

The milk bank’s website is at this link.