Celebrating World Human Milk Donation Day
The milk bank team who have received 1082.3 litres of donated breast milk for sick and premature babies last year.
Last year, our milk bank celebrated their 75th birthday and are now thanking all the generous donors who have made their work possible.
The Human Milk Bank at our Women’s Hospital 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.
The breast milk, generously donated from mums, is used on the neonatal unit for sick and premature babies and is used 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.
Over the last twelve months, the milk bank have had 42 new donors sign up to donate breast milk, and as well as providing milk for our own neonatal unit, have been able to dispatch 694.4 litres to other units in need.
Donna Hearnden, Milk Bank Manager, wants to thank all of the mums who have signed up to donate excess milk. She said: “We’re extremely grateful to each and every one of our donors who donate their breast milk.
“So far this year we’ve welcomed mums signing up to donate their breast milk, and we’re thankful to every one who donates.
“Every litre of milk makes a huge different, and we couldn’t do it without the kindness and generosity of our donors, so thank you.”
Once people sign up to donate their breast milk, they will be sent bottles to fill which volunteer blood biker groups will collect and bring to the milk bank to be pasteurized.
“We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of the volunteer blood bikers.” Donna added “We work with biker groups across the West Midlands to co-ordinate collecting the breast milk to bring to us, which makes it so easy and simple for people to donate.
“We’re very grateful to them for giving up their time, and for always collecting and riding all year round in all weather conditions too.”
If you are a breastfeeding mother with a baby less than six months old and you have excess milk, we would love to hear from you.
You could be changing the lives of another baby and their family forever.
You can find out more about donating breast milk on the milk bank’s dedicated page on our website.