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$10,000 Goal
Pediatric health advocates founded Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas (MMBNT) in 2004 for premature infants in North Texas who were relying on other communities for life-saving donor human milk. In its first year, MMBNT pasteurized approximately 4,000 ounces. Since then, more than 8 million ounces have been dispensed to the babies who needed it most.
With consistent growth in demand, MMBNT has become one of the largest dispensing nonprofit milk banks in North America. In 2022, MMBNT helped more babies than ever before after dispensing an all-time record of 854,442 ounces from an all-time record 1,394 screened donors. In 2023, 829,287 ounces were dispensed from 1,234 donors.
Mothers of preterm babies oftentimes have trouble lactating and establishing an adequate milk supply. Donated breastmilk can bridge this gap until a mother can feed her own baby.
Pasteurized donor human milk saves little lives. Essential nutrients, antibodies and growth factors aid recovery and development. Vulnerable infants are protected from life-threatening infections such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an intestinal disease with a high mortality rate. Statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2012, 2016 and 2022 recommend donor milk for high-risk infants if a mother’s own milk is not available, a common occurrence following preterm birth.
Numerous safeguards are in place to protect the quality and integrity of every bottle processed, including rigorous donor screenings, pasteurization and third-party microbiological testing. The milk bank's laboratory exceeds compliance measures set by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), which were developed according to the CDC, FDA and WHO.
Over 1000 mothers a year are rigorously screened and approved to donate the extra breastmilk their own babies don't need. The approval process requires a health screening, medical history and free blood test. Donors are not compensated for their milk and prefer to help other babies instead of throwing surplus milk away.
The milk bank dispenses donor milk to babies in more than 70 North Texas NICUs and by physician prescription to outpatient babies at home. Depending on milk availability, some healthy newborns can receive donor human milk between hospital discharge and an established breastfeeding routine.
An important component of the milk bank's mission is breastfeeding advocacy. A FREE breastfeeding support group called Baby Café is available in Fort Worth and virtually. Hosted by certified lactation consultants, parents can ask questions, meet other families and receive individualized help to achieve their breastfeeding goals.
Learn more by visiting our website HERE.
Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas strives to improve the health and survival of infants through breastfeeding advocacy and the safe, equitable provision of pasteurized donor human milk.
Contributions to our charitable care program, the Milk Money Fund, help us ensure that outpatient babies are never denied life-saving milk. Most of these families don't have insurance, have reached their policy's lifetime maximum or have other situations preventing insurance reimbursement.
Examples of outpatient babies we have served include infants with HIV complications, feeding tubes, heart defects, severe bowel malformations and those awaiting organ transplants.
Babies are prioritized based on their medical condition, not their family's ability to pay milk processing fees.
At Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, we are dedicated to improving equitable access to human milk, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace for our employees and cultivating relationships with community partners that broaden our impact and deepen our connection to the communities we serve.
We actively identify systemic barriers and disparities to ensure equitable access to our services for families in need. We advocate to make donor milk accessible to all outpatient families and collaborate with healthcare providers to reach underserved populations.
We strive to provide a welcoming and supportive environment where all individuals feel valued and respected regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status or ability. We celebrate and embrace diversity in our communities and work to ensure representation and inclusion in our programs.
Organization name
Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas
Causes
Health Care
Operating Budget
$3,000,000 - $9,999,999
Counties Served
Hunt, Wise, Tarrant, Somervell, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Navarro, Montague, Kaufman, Johnson, Hood, Grayson, Fannin, Erath, Ellis, Denton, Dallas, Cooke, Collin
BIPOC Leadership
Board Chair
Address
7617 Benbrook Parkway