PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s donor milk program supports hundreds of newborns

PeaceHealth St. Joseph in Bellingham, Wash., is supporting its most vulnerable patients by expanding access to donor breast milk for premature and at-risk newborns, ensuring they receive critical nutrition in their first days of life. Since December 2021, the hospital’s Special Care Nursery and Postpartum Unit has provided donor milk to 16 infants a month — a total of over 860 babies.

“Every ounce of donor milk represents the compassion of our community. It gives our tiniest patients a safer start and brings comfort to families when they need it most,” said Kimberly Carriker, director of nursing, women and children’s services at PeaceHealth St. Joseph.

Shelf-stable donor milk is pasteurized human milk that can be safely used when a parent’s own milk is not yet available. Donor milk helps improve outcomes for fragile newborns, supporting gut and immune health and reducing the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious intestinal disease and a leading cause of death among preterm infants. Donor milk isn’t fully covered by insurance, so PeaceHealth’s program, sustained through philanthropic support, helps bridge the gap.

By investing in this lifesaving resource, PeaceHealth St. Joseph is helping families navigate some of their most challenging moments while giving newborns a stronger, healthier start.

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