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San Francisco, CA — During National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG), San Francisco’s first Baby-Friendly certified safety net hospital and only Level 1 Trauma Center, hosted the second annual Human Milk Drive on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. in partnership with Mother’s Milk Bank.

This year, thanks to the generosity of our community, we collected 2,500 ounces to support babies and families across the country – that is equivalent to 5,000 tablespoons. Just two tablespoons of donated human milk could help a baby in need thrive.

Donor human milk provides optimal nutrition to our most fragile patients such as babies who are ill or preterm, separated from their birth parent, or have immunological deficiencies. For babies who need additional human milk, donor human milk provides the best possible chance at healthy growth and development from the beginning.

“This milk drive helps level the playing field for children who are unable to access the milk of their birthing parents, giving them a healthier start. It’s another way SFDPH and ZSFG are supporting families and making our communities healthier while leading with equity. I would like to express my gratitude to all of the donors who are helping us achieve our mission of protecting and promoting the health of all San Franciscans.”- Daniel Tsai, Director of Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH).

“As a safety-net hospital, we are dedicated to advancing health equity and ensuring that every baby and family has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. Hosting this drive puts our values into action with compassion, community, and care. We are building a healthier, more equitable future for all – one precious drop at a time.” – Dr. Susan Ehrlich, ZSFG Chief Executive Officer

“Every ounce of donated milk is an act of love and a lifeline. At our baby-friendly hospital, we see first-hand the life-saving impact human milk can have on a family. We believe every baby deserves a strong start and that every family deserves support – no matter their circumstance.” – Gillian Otway, ZSFG Chief Nursing Officer.

In July, ZSFG was honored as the 2025 NICU of the Year and a finalist for the Hospital of the Year – Lactation Impact Award by the California Breastfeeding Coalition. ZSFG NICU champions breast/chest feeding as essential to infant health and parent-infant bonding—offering exceptional clinical care while advancing Health Equity for all families, no matter their situation. With exclusive breast/chestfeeding rates far above the state average, our culturally responsive programs support families facing housing insecurity, trauma, and systemic barriers.

At ZSFG, our lactation support team consists of two full-time lactation consultant nurses, who are both registered nurses and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). All Labor & Delivery, NICU, Pediatrics, and Postpartum RNs have completed a 20-hour “breastfeeding basics” course and have the essential skills to support a chestfeeding couplet. Several ZSFG nurses are also certified as IBCLCs. All medical residents and Certified Nurse Midwives are required to complete basic lactation training as part of their role.

ZSFG is proud of its Baby-Friendly designation, first achieved in 2007, which demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible support for breast/chest feeding. ZSFG goes through an extensive recertification process every five years, which includes staff training and quality improvement projects, and the unit was just recertified in 2024. All of this work ensures that we give babies a healthy start in life.

To kick off National Breastfeeding Awareness month, on August 6, SFDPH’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MCAH) Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program, in partnership with the SF Breastfeeding Coalition, hosted a celebratory rally and walk. This joyful, family-friendly event highlighted the importance of breastfeeding/chestfeeding, uplifted parents and families, and promoted services that give every baby a healthy start.

Media Contact: dph.press@sfdph.org