Jefferson Hospital Opens New South Hills Breast Milk Depot
Jefferson Hospital opened a new Milk Bank Depot in the South Hills in August, establishing a community drop-off site for nursing parents to donate surplus breast milk. The facility operates as part of an ongoing partnership between Allegheny Health Network and the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank, wesanews.org reported. The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit supplies donor milk to inpatient and outpatient infants with medical needs across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Freezer Chest Installed Inside AHN Jefferson’s Healthy Food Center
A brand-new freezer chest inside AHN Jefferson’s Healthy Food Center holds donated breast milk in bags labeled with specific dates. Women and birthing parents who have a surplus supply can complete a screening process and drop off their milk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Joy Peters, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, stated that the depot aims to increase regional donor milk supplies for premature babies, medically fragile newborns, and infants whose mothers face temporary challenges providing milk.
Strip District Lab Handles Testing and Pasteurization
Staff at the Jefferson Hospital depot routinely monitor freezer temperatures and coordinate pickups with the milk bank. A courier transports the collected milk supply to the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank lab in the Strip District for testing and pasteurization. Donors must complete bloodwork screenings for medication use, supplement use, and bloodborne pathogens. Denise O’Connor, co-founder and executive director of the milk bank, explained that the facility uses a low-temperature process that inactivates harmful bacteria and viruses while preserving bioactive immunological factors that support infant growth and development.
Local Mothers Share Personal Experiences and Donation Plans
Victoria Meucci utilized donated breast milk at Jefferson Hospital in August after giving birth to her daughter, Liliana, who experienced low blood sugar readings following a gestational diabetes diagnosis. Meucci stated that the experience showed how valuable the resource is during a baby’s first days and announced her intention to return the favor by donating her own extra breast milk in the future. Miranda Quirin also participates in the program, storing her surplus supply in the Jefferson depot freezer for transport to the milk bank.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Jefferson Hospital Milk Depot
What is the schedule for dropping off surplus breast milk at Jefferson Hospital?
Eligible donors can drop off their surplus breast milk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays inside AHN Jefferson’s Healthy Food Center after completing the required screening process.
Which regions receive the pasteurized milk distributed by the nonprofit?
The Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank distributes its processed supply to hospitals across Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as parts of New Jersey and Maryland, serving both inpatient and outpatient infants with medical needs.
Where does the final testing of the milk take place in Allegheny County?
Final safety testing and macronutrient content analysis for neonatal intensive care units are conducted at the Jefferson Hospital lab in Allegheny County.
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