Oklahoma City’s tiniest hospitalized newborns are getting better and safer access to breast milk and formula thanks to the generosity of our region’s most popular milk experts – Braum’s.

Mercy leaders, co-workers, donors and members of the Braum’s organization celebrated the opening of the new Braum’s Infant Milk Room at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City’s Love Family Women’s Center.

The event featured a blessing of the new space, ribbon cutting and remarks by Mercy leaders and Drew Braum, president and chief executive officer of Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Stores. The Oklahoma-based company donated half a million dollars to fund the new space that will safely store and prepare breast milk and formula for hospitalized infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City.

“It is an honor to partner with Mercy and the Love Family Women’s Center to bring another element of critical infant care to Oklahoma City with Braum’s Infant Milk Room,” Braum said. “At Braum’s, our passion is providing nutritious A2 fresh milk for our patrons. We knew right away that we wanted to be a part of this fantastic project to give babies and their families better access to breast milk and formula during such a vital time.”

Beyond storage and preparation, the Braum’s Infant Milk Room will be a designated location for parents to check in breast milk to be labeled and stored for their newborn. Certified milk technicians will prepare it for Mercy’s NICU patients. The space is expected to serve nearly 600 babies each year.

“The creation of the Braum’s Infant Milk Room has been many years in the making, and it is so exciting to offer this option to our youngest patients and their families,” said Brandy Chaney, manager of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City’s NICU. “When you have a child staying in the NICU, all you want to do as a parent is help them grow and thrive. Providing milk is one thing they can do to help their child.”

Mercy hopes to soon serve as a drop-off location for donated breast milk. Donated breast milk helps families who choose breast milk but can’t provide it themselves or can’t provide enough to meet their baby’s needs.