SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center is excited to announce they plan to open a human milk donation and outreach center Feb 12. The Birth & Infant Care Center will join the Mothers’ Milk Bank network, a Colorado-based, nonprofit program benefiting women and babies nationwide.

The Regional West milk bank will be a collection site for milk for the Mothers’ Milk Bank. Area mothers who produce milk in excess of their babies’ needs can drop off bags of milk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the front desk of the Birth and Infant Care Center nurses’ station. The milk will be tagged and safely stored until it is ready to be shipped to Denver. The breast milk is then available for babies locally and throughout the country. The freezer was provided for the milk bank by Regional West Foundation.

“Being a drop site for donor breast milk will make a positive impact on so many lives and speaks to the support we offer our community related to breastfeeding and pumping” says Erika Carmody, RN, MSN, director of Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center.

The Mothers’ Milk Bank was a valuable resource for Regional West’s two new OB/GYN and Pediatrics providers.

”My wife and I have personally used the Milk Bank of Colorado to supply our infant with breast milk. It has been a great option for us since the demands of a working mom do not allow a lot of time to pump during the work day,” said pediatrician Todd Brubaker, DO.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding promotes a unique and emotional connection between mother and baby. Breast milk provides the healthiest start for an infant because it is a natural source of nutrition. The organization promotes exclusive breastfeeding, or use of breast milk, for about the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age. Breastfeeding is encouraged for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.

Women interested in giving the gift of human milk may complete a donor application form at www.milkbankcolorado.org or call 303.869.1888. A blood test is required and will be provided free of charge. To learn more or to become a donor, call 303.869.1888 or visit milkbankcolorado.org.

Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center will host an open house to celebrate the opening of the milk donation center  Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. Potential milk donors and those who would like to learn more about the milk bank are invited to attend.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.