DONOR MILK
SAVES LIVES
Mothers' milk is the best nutrition for newborns.
But some babies don't have access to their mother's milk at birth. Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit milk bank dedicated to providing safe, pasteurized donor human milk to the most vulnerable babies in need of lifesaving nutrition.
THE POWER OF HUMAN MILK
For medically fragile infants, breast milk is more than a nutritional choice. It is a lifesaving intervention. Studies have proven the use of only human milk to feed preterm and low birth weight infants reduces mortality by 75%.
Each year, hundreds of extraordinary Tennessee moms volunteer to share their excess milk to advance our mission. Our milk donors are improving outcomes for preterm and critical infants with every ounce of their lifesaving milk.
Why Our Work Matters
1 in 9
babies are born preterm in Tennessee.
60%
of moms with babies in the NICU are not able to produce enough milk.
1 in 11
babies in Tennessee are born at low birthweight.
We are on a mission to improve the odds for Tennessee babies born too soon and too small. You can join us by contributing your time, talents and resources.
"Donor milk has had a tremendous impact on our patients - we use it like medicine because it is one of the most healing treatments we can provide. We care for the smallest, sickest and most vulnerable babies and as such want to make sure they have the most biologically optimal nutrition. We always use mother's milk first but when this is not possible, donor milk is the next best bridge or substitute for mother's milk."
- Stephanie Attarian, MD
