The Human Milk Bank at the Hospital de la Mujer in Ciudad Juárez has issued a call for breastfeeding mothers to donate human milk to support premature infants and newborns receiving medical care locally.
Donors Must Meet Health and Screening Criteria
- Operational Centers: Collected milk supplies the Hospital de la Mujer and the Hospital Infantil de Especialidades de Ciudad Juárez.
- Donor Criteria: Candidates must be actively breastfeeding, healthy, free of blood transfusions for five years, and without tattoos less than one year old.
- Screening Protocol: Donors must fast for eight hours for medical evaluations, complete nutritional histories, and the milk undergoes pasteurization and microbiological testing.
Screening Requirements and Medical Protocols at the Hospital de la Mujer
Operating under the State Government through the Ministry of Health, the Human Milk Bank serves as the specialized center for collecting, processing, and distributing human milk. Erika Cabral de Anda, the chemist responsible for the bank, outlined the eligibility criteria required for prospective donors. Candidates must be in their lactation period, maintain good general health, and verify they have not received blood transfusions within the past five years. Any tattoos must be at least one year old.
Before any donation is accepted, interested women must report to the hospital after an eight-hour fast. This initial visit involves medical studies alongside the creation of clinical and nutritional histories. Once cleared through screening, donors complete training covering safe extraction, storage, and transport methods designed to prevent contamination. Donors also sign an informed consent document to formalize their contribution.
Staff Test and Pasteurize Milk Before Dosage
Upon arrival at the facility, the donated milk undergoes testing. Staff perform a sensory analysis to verify color, odor, and acidity levels while checking for potential contaminants. Technicians then measure the caloric content to classify the milk according to its nutritional profile.
Following nutritional classification, the milk undergoes pasteurization and microbiological analysis before storage. In the final stage of the workflow, a nutritionist collaborates with a pediatrician to calculate the dosage each infant requires based on clinical conditions, body weight, and nutritional needs.
| Operational Stage | Responsible Personnel / Facility | Key Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Donor Intake | Hospital de la Mujer Staff | 8-hour fasting labs, clinical history, training, and consent signing. |
| Laboratory Testing | Specialized Personnel | Sensory checks, caloric evaluation, pasteurization, and microbiology tests. |
| Clinical Allocation | Nutritionist & Pediatrician | Nutritional profiling and customized dosage assignment for hospitalized infants. |
Mothers Can Donate Milk at Hospital De La Mujer
This organized collection system provides nutritional support for premature infants and newborns whose mothers cannot temporarily provide milk due to medical circumstances. Women wishing to participate as donors can visit the Hospital de la Mujer in Ciudad Juárez directly or call (629) 3300, extension 54385, to schedule an appointment and resolve questions regarding the screening process.
