Announcing the opening of the first human milk bank depot in New England, located at Isis Parenting, Merchant's Row, Hanover MA.

This milestone event is timed to coordinate with World Breastfeeding Week, an international event celebrated every year from August 1st to 7th in more than 170 countries.

Needham, Massachusetts -- July 31, 2012:

The human milk bank depot at Isis Parenting is the only of its kind in New England and is a collaboration of Isis Parenting and the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England (MMBNE). MMBNE is one of only 12 HMBANA-accredited human milk banks in North America. A donor milk bank is a not-for-profit service established for the purpose of collecting, screening, processing and distributing donated human milk primarily to premature and sick babies whose mothers do not have enough milk for their babies. All member banks operate under the guidelines of Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

Prior to being accepted into the milk donation program, potential volunteer donors are screened by MMBNE in a process that includes a health clearance and blood testing. Once accepted into the program, volunteer milk donors are able to donate frozen breast milk on a one-time or ongoing basis. The milk is pasteurized, cultured and frozen, and distributed to over a dozen hospitals in New England including the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at South Shore Hospital. “Human milk for very premature infants not only reduces complications, but has lasting effects. It has been shown to improve cognitive function for premature babies at two years of age,” said John Fiascone, MD, NICU Medical Director, South Shore Hospital.

Human milk is fast becoming the standard of care for premature and other sick babies, and is medicinal as well as nutritional. When an ill infant's mother is not able to provide milk for her baby, donated human milk is used. Nancy Holtzman, RN, a Board Certified Lactation Consultant and VP of Clinical Content at Isis Parenting explains, "Human milk contains specific immune and growth factors needed for development that are not found in formula. The smallest premature babies in particular have immature digestive and immune systems and are especially vulnerable to a potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease called NEC. Studies show feeding these micro-preemies exclusively with breast milk reduces the chances of these and other complications of prematurity."

Nationwide supply of Donor Human Milk is inadequate to meet demand for premature and ill infants in need.

Naomi Bar-Yam, PhD, Executive Director of the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England explains "Demand for the use of donor human milk in the NICU setting is constantly increasing as the research indicates the importance of human milk even when an infant's mother is not able to supply breast milk. Awareness of milk banks is also increasing and that is increasing our need for more donor breast milk. Non-profit milk banks in North America have reached critically low levels of screened donor human milk for fragile babies in relation to demand. We are screening more donors and processing and dispensing more milk than ever before."

The Mothers' Milk Bank of New England is asking healthy lactating mothers to consider donating to a milk bank for fragile babies in cases when the sick baby's mother is not able to provide her own milk. Interested mothers can learn more at www.milkbankne.org.

Once screened by MMBNE and accepted into the human milk donor program, mothers on the South Shore have the convenient option of using the MMBNE Human Milk Donation depot located at Isis Parenting Merchant's Row (2053 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339). "We are delighted to be partnering with MMBNE and South Shore Hospital in assuring that our most fragile babies receive the milk that they need to grow," said Nancy Holtzman, RN, Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Vice President, Clinical Content & Learning at Isis Parenting.

For more information or interviews contact:
Laura Thom, Media Relations, Isis Parenting: lthom@isisparenting.com or 781.429.1449
Naomi Bar-Yam, Executive Director, MMBNE: naomi@milkbankne.org or 617.599.2902

About Isis Parenting
Isis Parenting is the nation's leading provider of prenatal and early parenting education. Isis partners with leading healthcare institutions to offer their patients over 40 courses in childbirth, breastfeeding, early parenting and child development education. At its four Boston-area parenting centers, Isis also offers a wide selection of products essential to families through the first three years of parenting and child development. Merchandise sold includes baby gear, car seats, strollers, breastpumps, nursing bras and more. Expert guidance is always available from highly knowledgeable center associates. In addition, Isis Parenting now offers a baby registry in store and online. For more information, visit www.isisparenting.com.

About the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England
The Mothers' Milk Bank of New England was founded in 2006. In 2010 MMBNE completed work on their milk-processing lab. In 2011, the bank was fully certified by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and began screening and accepting donors, collecting, processing, and distributing milk. MMBNE provides donor milk to over a dozen hospitals in New England and over 100 outpatient families. For more information, visit www.milkbankne.org or call 617.527.6263