Photo: Samantha Holomay

Trail's tier 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) now offers pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) for vulnerable newborns.

The tier 3 NICU that opened in February 2024 will provide milk to support premature and vulnerable newborns across the West Kootenays.

Rebecca Hunt, a neonatal nurse at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, was instrumental in bringing in the milk.

"The extra immune properties and health benefits of human milk are optimal for these vulnerable little humans until their own parent’s milk supply is established," said Hunt.

"The nutrients and benefits of human milk cannot be fully duplicated in the formula, making PDHM even more beneficial for those that are extra small or premature."

According to the Canadian Drug Agency, PDHM can help protect pre-term babies from serious life-threatening illnesses and infections, as most of the original immunological and infection-prevention properties of breast milk are preserved after processing.

So how can people donate? Hunt said that although the process is straightforward, there are specific requirements.

"Donating milk is simple, and donors are provided easy-to-follow instructions. Before donating milk, a donor has to complete a screening process, have expressed and stored at least 75 ounces of milk, and agree to blood tests."

In addition, donors must be healthy, non-smoking, breastfeeding mothers with babies up to 18 months old (including bereaved donors).

"Trained Interior Health staff receive and store the milk, then courier it to the BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank free of charge," said Hunt.

The Milk Bank also pasteurizes portions of the milk into bottles to provide for other NICUs and some postpartum units across the province, including Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and now Trail.

The milk collection sites are located in Kelowna and Kamloops. After the donations are received, they are couriered to the BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank. After that, they are shipped off to other NICU units across the province, in addition to the ones in the Interior Health.

A physician or midwife prescription is also required for PDHM when a medical need exists. While most healthy, full-term newborns do not require it, exceptions may occur in some postpartum units.

Interior Health noted that there are no timelines for other hospitals within the health authority to receive PDHM at this time.

Despite this, Hunt said that individuals interested in donating who meet the requirements can read more about donating on the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre website.