California has declared May as the state's first Human Milk Donation Month through Senate Resolution 20, authored by Senators Dave Cortese and Aisha Wahab, to raise awareness about the life-saving potential of donor human milk for premature and medically fragile infants. The resolution coincides with the release of a comprehensive report, The State of Human Milk Banking in California, which reveals a significant increase in demand for pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM). Mothers' Milk Bank California reports a 30% increase in PDHM demand over the past year, with the organization currently distributing milk to 60% of California's Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).
Preterm infants represent the primary population requiring donor human milk, with reasons for milk donation needs including maternal absence, potential disease transmission risks, medication incompatibility with breastfeeding, hospitalization, and lactation challenges. In California, up to 99% of very preterm or very low birthweight babies use PDHM in NICUs, yet the current donor pool meets less than 75% of the increased demand. This shortage highlights a critical public health issue for the state's most vulnerable newborns.
Donor screening processes ensure milk safety, with medical screenings determining donor eligibility. Donated milk undergoes pasteurization to eliminate pathogens while preserving nutritional value, followed by comprehensive health testing before distribution to hospitals and individuals. Jennifer Benito-Kowalski, CEO of Mothers' Milk Bank California, emphasized the critical nature of donations, noting that only 2% of eligible donors in California are currently contributing, despite 1 in 11 babies being born preterm. More information about the organization's work can be found at https://www.mothersmilk.org.
Senator Dave Cortese highlighted breast milk's unique properties in preventing serious infant diseases like Necrotizing Enterocolitis, which can be fatal to premature babies. The resolution aims to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable newborns by promoting human milk donation as a life-saving resource. Multiple organizations, including UC Health Milk Bank, California Breastfeeding Coalition, and community groups, are supporting the public awareness campaign. The California Breastfeeding Coalition provides additional resources at https://www.californiabreastfeeding.org to educate the public about milk donation.
The implications of this announcement are substantial for neonatal care across California. By officially recognizing Human Milk Donation Month, the state is taking a proactive step to address a growing healthcare disparity. The awareness campaign seeks to bridge the gap between supply and demand, potentially saving countless infant lives through increased donor participation. This legislative action underscores the importance of community-based solutions to medical challenges, particularly for populations with specialized nutritional requirements.
