Natalie is helping the Milk Bank cause with her donations
Our Milk Bank is calling for more donors to help provide breast milk to babies in our neonatal unit and provide to hospitals across the West Midlands.
They’re looking for donors like Natalie, from Tamworth, who started donating in February 2023 after she had her second child in December 2022.
Natalie said: “I had started breast feeding and I found that I was having a massive over-supply of milk. I searched online and came across the Milk Bank and got in touch. It’s really easy, they send bottles over and arrange for them to be picked up by the blood bikers. My eldest really likes that part when they arrive on the bikes.”
Every two to three months Natalie sends milk to the Milk Bank, storing it in her freezer in the mean time. She has donated around 10 to 15 litres of breast milk so far.
She said: “I think it is really important to donate. Before I found out about the Milk Bank I didn’t know it was something you could do, but since doing it I’ve found out that lots of other people that I know have used donor milk. I wish I could’ve started donating sooner. I’m glad it’s not going to waste and is going to help other babies and support new parents.
“The Milk Bank team make everything absolutely effortless. It is really easy to get in touch when you need bottles, which usually arrive in 48 hours, and to arrange a good time for the blood bikers to pick up the milk. All I need to do is email them, which is great when I am doing a feed overnight, I can send an email and it gets picked up in the morning. It takes no time out of my day.”
“I wish more people knew about it, it’s an amazing thing to do.”
Thanks to donor breast milk, babies have an increased chance of survival and an improved long term development outcome.
If you are a breastfeeding mother with a baby less than 6 months old and you find you have surplus milk, we would love to hear from you. If you would like more information about donating or have any questions, please get in touch on 0121 335 8245 or bwc.milk.bank@nhs.net.
Find out more about the team.