In Bay Shore, a donor breast-milk program

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A new donor breast milk program in Bay Shore is designed to help babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore.

With this program, mothers who wish to breastfeed but struggle with milk production are provided a “bridge” so their baby can still receive human milk instead of formula.

The hospital is part of the Northwell Health system, whose effort includes other birthing hospitals in the health system where donor milk is available.

“Donor breast milk offers invaluable support for preterm infants, particularly when a mother’s milk is delayed or limited,” Wendi Andria, clinical program manager of lactation services at the hospital, said in the news release.

“Our donor breast milk program ensures that every infant in the NICU has access to these essential benefits, giving parents peace of mind as they navigate the challenges of early life in the NICU,” Andria said.

Compared to formula, which is often cow-based and more difficult to digest, human milk is considered a “liquid gold” to infants. Studies show that preterm infants fed with human milk have a decreased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious intestinal disease seen in preterm babies.

The hospital partners with the New York Milk Bank in Valhalla, which sources donor milk from thoroughly screened donors, pasteurizing and pooling it from multiple sources to ensure safety. The milk arrives frozen through overnight FedEx, ready to be thawed and given to the baby.

“The launch of our donor breast milk program underscores SSUH’s commitment to providing the highest level of care for our community’s vulnerable newborns,” Irene Macyk, president if South Shore University Hospital, said in the news release. “We’re proud to offer this service to our community and to give every child in our NICU the best possible start.”

The hospital announced the completion of its $71 million, 45,560-square-foot, two-story Women and Children’s Center. The hospital-within-a-hospital includes a new labor and delivery suite, private post-partum suites, an all-private NICU, a post-anesthesia recovery unit, two new operating rooms and obstetrical-triage beds.