What is a milk room?

By Tammy Hoff, RN, MS, NE-BC

Most neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have a refrigerator or a subzero-temperature freezer where pumped milk can be stored. However, some NICUs may operate what is known as a milk room - a designated room where pumped milk or donor milk is stored and where your baby’s feeds are prepared.

In a milk room, specially trained staff known as milk techs will mix your milk with a fortifier in order to provide the exact nutrients needed. In NICUs without milk rooms, nurses will prepare your baby’s feeds at the bedside. With or without a milk room, your preemie’s medical team are dedicated to ensuring that your little one gets the nutrition necessary to grow and thrive.