Milk Bank (Lab) Services
Texas Children’s Milk Bank (Lab) is a state-of-the-art collection, labeling, refrigeration and dispensing center that stores and prepares deposited breast milk to feed infants in the Texas Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Texas Children's Pavilion for Women.
The Milk Bank is surrounded by comfortable, private rooms where mothers can use hospital-provided breast pumps and collection bottles 24/7. Staff are available to counsel mothers about pumping and breastfeeding concerns.
After expressing their milk, mothers bring it to the Milk Bank where it is stored in large commercial grade freezers/refrigerators. Technicians who are specially trained in the handling of expressed breast milk monitor the mother's collection technique, prepare the milk for feeding, add fortification to the milk as ordered by the physician and deliver the prepared milk to the infant areas.
As international leaders in caring for the health of babies and children, Texas Children's Hospital knows the importance of mother's milk to the health and development of newborn babies. That's why the team at Texas Children's Lactation and Milk Bank Services provides a variety of services to support breastfeeding mothers and their infants.
Just the facts
Our program handles more than 2,000 phone calls each year from mothers with questions about breastfeeding, pumping, medications and more. More than 80 percent of the mothers of babies in the Texas Children's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provide breast milk to their babies – far surpassing the national average of 60 percent of all mothers who breastfeed. Mothers pump and store more than 100,000 meals of breast milk for their infants in the NICU each year.
Care and Compassion
Whether your child is a patient in Texas Children's NICU, a premature infant at another hospital or a healthy baby, the experienced, compassionate team at Texas Children's Lactation and Milk Bank Services shares encouragement and expertise backed by years of experience in helping breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding support, advice and resources are a phone call or e-mail away – whether or not your baby is a patient at Texas Children's Hospital. Our staff of knowledgeable, specially trained lactation consultants is ready to work with you to help you provide this valuable gift to your baby. Learn more about our services and support.
Pavilion for Women receives Baby Friendly Hospital designation
The milestone demonstrates our commitment to educating and supporting new mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding.