Mothers' Milk Bank California Launches Online Milk Drive for National Prematurity Awareness Month

In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month this November, Mothers' Milk Bank California is launching an Online Milk Drive to raise awareness about the vital role donor breast milk plays in saving the lives of premature and medically fragile infants. With over 380,000 babies born prematurely in the U.S. each year, the need for donated human milk is greater than ever. This drive aims to increase the number of breast milk donors while educating the public about the importance of donor milk for infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The drive will run from November 1 to November 30, 2024, and will be available online and in-person at 10 collection centers across California and Nevada. Mothers' Milk Bank California invites breastfeeding mothers, community members, and supporters across the country to join this critical initiative. Donor breast milk provides life-saving nutrients and immune support to premature and sick infants who are unable to receive their mother’s milk. It is a crucial alternative when a mother’s own milk is unavailable, reducing the risk of serious infections like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and improving health outcomes for the most vulnerable babies. The goal of this drive is to ensure that no baby goes without the nourishment they need to survive and thrive.