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THEY SAY IT'S A MUCH- NEEDED RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT TO FEED IT TO THEIR BABIES. JUST A STONE'S THROW FROM THE FIVE CORNERS IN ESSEX JUNCTION... < NATS/ CAR DRIVES BY> A SOURCE OF SUPPORT... FOR FAMILIES <09:10:53:15 THIS HAS BEEN A VISION OF MINE AND OTHERS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW> REGISTERED NURSE AMY WENGER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VERMONT DONOR MILK CENTER... SHE SAW THE NEED FOR ONE WHILE WORKING AT THE UVM MEDICAL CENTER WITH MOTHERS WHO WERE HAVING TROUBLE BREASTFEEDING . <09:24:04:15 BREAST MILK IS BETTER FOR THE BELLY. IT'S BETTER FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. IT'S MORE COMPLETE ON THE WHOLE> HOSPITAL PATIENTS ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO THE HOSPITAL'S HUMAN MILK BANK FOR BABIES WHO AREN'T ABLE TO FEED FROM THEIR MOTHERS <09:11:53:25 I SAID WHY ARENT WE DOING THIS ON THE OUTSIDE? THERES NO PLACE IN VERMONT OUTPATIENT TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE DONOR MILK> THE VERMONT DONOR MILK CENTER IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE... PROVIDING PASTEURIZED BREAST MILK TO FAMILIES WITH A PRESCRIPTION. <09:16:40:18 WE ARE SLIDING THE SCALE TO WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD, BECAUSE WE WANT THIS TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND WE WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD A LARGER BILL> IT'S ALSO A PLACE WHERE WOMEN CAN DONATE THEIR OWN BREAST MILK... WHICH IS PASTEURIZED THROUGH THE MOTHER'S MILK BANK OF THE NORTHEAST. DONORS ARE INTERVIEWED BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APP rLICATION...WHICH ASKS ABOUT MEDICATION, LIFESTYLE AND PLACES THEYVE TRAVELED... <09:19:35:25 YOU GET A BLOOD TEST, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE FREE FROM THE DISEASES THAT CAN BE PASSED THROUGH BREAST MILK> AND ONCE APPROVED, YOU CAN DONATE. <09:15:28:25 WE REALLY WANT TO BECOME A HUB FOR LACTATION> A NEW OPTION F

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Just a stone's throw from the Five Corners in Essex Junction is a source of support for families."This has been a vision of mine and others for about two years now," said registered nurse Amy Wenger. She's one of the executive directors of the Vermont Donor Milk Center. She saw the need for one while working at the University of Vermont Medical Center with mothers who were having trouble breastfeeding."Breast milk is better for the belly. It's better for brain development. It's more complete on the whole," said Wenger.Hospital patients already have access to its human milk bank for babies who aren't able to feed from their mothers."I said, 'Why aren't we doing this on the outside? There's no place in Vermont outpatient to be able to receive donor milk,'" she said.The Vermont Donor Milk Center is the first of its kind in the state, providing pasteurized breast milk to families with a prescription."We are sliding the scale to what people can afford because we want this to be accessible, and we want it to be able to be available for everybody and not just people who can afford a larger bill," said Wenger.It's also a place where women can donate their breast milk, which is pasteurized through the Mother's Milk Bank of the Northeast.Donors are interviewed before submitting an application, which asks about medication, lifestyle and places they've traveled. "You get a blood test (to) make sure that you are free from the diseases that can be passed through breast milk," said Wenger.Once approved, women can donate. "We really want to become a hub for lactation," said Wenger.It's a new option for families to make sure their little ones get the nutrition they need. The Vermont Donor Milk Center is also able to help families in northern New York who want to use its resources.Additionally, it is able to deliver milk to families who can't come to the Essex Junction location.Wenger said she hopes to eventually open a donor breast milk center in every Vermont county.The Essex Junction location is scheduled to open the week of Jan. 6.