LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Human milk banks would be created and regulated to help nourish premature babies under legislation introduced by a state House lawmaker.
Rep. Erika Geiss, a Democrat form Taylor, recently held a press conference about her legislation to set standards for human milk banks in Michigan.
She says studies show "feeding breast milk to premature infants, whether from their mother or another source, has significant short- and long-term benefits."
She adds that: "Many mothers are unaware that donated breast milk is an option."
Michigan's infant mortality rate is among the highest in the nation at 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. In urban areas such as Detroit and Saginaw, infant mortality rates are as high as 15.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.