Ridgeview Breast Milk Donation and Distribution Site

Ridgeview is a breast milk donation site

Ridgeview partners with the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies as a Milk Depot (collection site) for area donors and distribution site.

According to Megan Wiyninger, RN, IBCLC, lactation consultant, Ridgeview, “Donor milk is the next best solution to feeding baby when mom’s milk isn’t an option. Antibodies in human breast milk establish a baby’s immune system and help to develop the gastrointestinal system. Formula simply does not have these protective qualities.”

Ridgeview currently uses donor milk from the Minnesota Milk Bank for its premature and sick babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and babies in need of supplementation in its nursery.

Donate human milk

To become a breast milk donor, participants are first screened by the Minnesota Milk Bank. Only approved donors may drop off milk at Ridgeview. Donations are collected and stored in a freezer onsite until a larger supply is gathered and then sent to the MN Milk Bank for pasteurization and distribution throughout the state.

To become a donor, please contact the Minnesota Milk Bank to begin the screening process. To learn more, or to schedule your donation appointment at Ridgeview, contact Megan Wiyninger at 952.777.4658.

Distribution site

The Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies processes donor human milk for distribution to medically fragile infants. The human milk goes through a three-step screening process which includes a screening, pasteurization and testing before it is frozen and shipped to distribution sites.

Those in need of donor human milk can purchase up to 10 bottles (40 ounces total) without a prescription from Ridgeview's Home Medical Equipment satellite store located on the 3rd Floor of the Waconia Campus hospital building. Those in need of larger volumes will be directed to the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies Roseville Site.

The store is open most weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We encourage those in need of donor milk to contact the store ahead of time to ensure availability by calling 952.442.2191, ext. 35740.