Celebrating 70 years of our Birmingham Milk Bank
Today (28 October) were celebrating 70 years of our Birmingham Milk Bank. Starting in 1950 (pictured), our Human Milk Bank is the only one in the West Midlands, providing donor breast milk to our own neonatal babies, as well as to hospitals around the region and beyond. We offer donor milk to support mothers while they are establishing their own milk supply, or if they are unable to provide their own milk due to geographical separation or maternal illness.
At present the team have 106 donors since the beginning of the year and over the past year we have had 8,830 bottle of breast milk donated by our donors with 5,300 litres of donor milk sent to Neonatal units in hospitals throughout the West Midlands and Wales.
Jenny Harrison, Milk Bank Practitioner who has worked in the Milk Bank for over 23 years said:
"We are fortunate that a fantastic team of volunteer blood bikers collect and transport our milk and blood samples all over the West Midlands, as for north as far Lincoln and far south as Gloucester."
This year, our milk bank underwent a full refurbishment which saw installation of new Pasteurisers, fridges and freezers which support our team with donations and demands from hospitals.
Marina Rudge, Milk Bank Practitioner said:
"The COVID-19 pandemic saw hospitals request for more milk which put a strain on the stock. We decided to do a call out through various forms on social media for new donors and they did not disappoint. We were so fortunate to be inundated with calls and emails from prospective donors who wanted to help.
"It was so heart-warming that through the uncertain times of COVID-19 that people really came forward. We took on many new donors and our milk stocks were soon replenished. "
If you would like more information about donating or have any questions, please visit our website https://bwc.nhs.uk/human-milk-bank/