Community Corner

Local Woman Opens Breast Milk Donation Bank in Herndon

Margaret Parsley has been working to open the Mothers Milk Bank of Virginia so nursing women can help provide nutrient-rich breast milk to babies who need it in neonatal intensive care units.

The Mothers Milk Bank of Virginia held a grand opening over the weekend that educated attendees on the importance of breast milk to infant health.

Margaret Parsley has been working with mothers, babies and as a lactation consultant since graduating as a midwife in South Africa in 1964. Most recently she has worked as a nurse at Inova Health.

On Saturday, Jan. 28 she took a big step to achieving her dream of opening a donor milk bank in Northern Virginia, located at 209 Elden St., Suite 200, in Herndon. 

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Sen. Janet Howell (D-32) was in attendance to help cut the ribbon. Del. Ken Plum (D-36) and Fairfax County Public Schools Hunter Mill district school board member Pat Hynes were in attendance as well.

During the grand opening she talked to attendees about why donor milk is necessary. She said in cases of premature birth, mothers who are on medications or have breast deformities or hormonal dysfunction, mothers can be prevented from being able to provide breast milk.

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In the cases of babies who are born premature or that are congenitally ill, having breast milk can make a difference in their development and health, Parsley said.

During the event, new mother Alison Garcia talked about the importance of breast milk after her son, Magic, was born about three months premature.

Garcia said when Magic was born she was in a state of shock and didn’t know if he would live, or if he would have health issues as he grew. She began working with a lactation consultant to make sure she could breastfeed Magic, who is now a healthy 8 month old. She said when mothers can’t provide breast milk, donated milk can help improve the lives of babies who need it.

Though Parsley has the space for the milk bank, she still needs some of the equipment, she said. The pasteurizer needed to process the donated milk costs $40,000, and the three freezers needed each cost $4,000.  The machine to seal the bottled milk costs $3,000 and the bottles themselves are $1 each.

Parsley said once the proper equipment is purchased they can begin to accept donations.

Donors are screened for medical history, international travel, lifestyle choices such as tobacco and alcohol use, and what current medications they are on. Donors also need letters of recommendation from their doctor and their baby’s doctor, she said.

Donors then need to collect 200 ounces of breast milk to donate, and a cooler will be sent to them to transport the donation to the Mothers Milk Bank of Virginia, Parsley said.

Once the donated milk is screened and pasteurized it is packed and sent to babies who need it in the neonatal intensive care units in hospitals.

In the meantime, while Parsley works to collect the funds needed for the equipment to become a full fledged milk bank, she is providing lactation consults and moms groups. For more information on the Mothers Milk Bank of Virginia, click here


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