NICU Donor Milk Services

Cook Children's participates in a donor breast milk program. Mothers throughout Texas and surrounding states donate breast milk to the Mother's Milk Bank of North Texas, one of only two milk banks in Texas. The donated milk is tested, pasteurized and delivered to our Level IV Neonatal ICU to provide nourishment for sick and premature babies.

Cook Children's may use tested donor milk with babies who are premature or have one or more of the following conditions:

Intestinal disorders
Renal failure
Cardiac problems
Post-surgical recovery
Metabolic disorders
Organ transplants
Immunodeficiency diseases
Necrotizing enterocolitis

Fortifying your breast milk

To help your baby grow stronger and healthier, we may use a special milk fortifier (extra nutrients) or a pasteurized human milk additive (added calories) to your milk. Studies have shown that babies 33 weeks gestation and earlier who only receive human milk products have a 50 percent decreased risk in developing necrotizing enterocolitis. Specially trained milk technicians are on staff to mix mothers' milk with these needed nutrients.

If your baby requires any of the abo

ve, we may need you to sign a consent form allowing us to feed your baby pasteurized human milk or pasteurized human milk additive.

Visit the Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas

We're here to help.

If you are interested in scheduling a tour of our NICU, please call 682-885-4375. You can find information on how to refer a patient or other NICU contact information here.