A little more of the breast milk of human kindness
Ireland’s only milk bank is at crisis point as vital supplies run low
IRELAND’S only human milk bank has just two weeks’ supply left and is urgently calling for donors.
The Human Milk Bank provides breast-milk from donors to maternity hospitals for premature babies who are unable to digest formula.
The service is vital in situations where a mother cannot feed her baby due to illness or accident. In some cases, mothers are undergoing chemotherapy, which means her own breast milk cannot be consumed by her baby. Milk Bank staff also cite instances where babies are so premature that the mother’s own milk has not yet come in.
Located in Co. Fermanagh, it has supplied milk to more twins, triplets and quadruplets in the last 12 months than ever before, stretching supplies to breaking point.
In addition, a severe outbreak of rotavirus among infants late last year meant many potential donors needed to concentrate on their own babies’ health, which further cut donations.
Meanwhile, demand remains high. The tiniest premature babies start off consuming tiny volumes but paediatricians prefer to keep these particularly vulnerable infants for as long as possible until their digestive systems can cope with formula.
‘It’s quite a scary scenario now,’ Ann McCrae, the NHS Nurse-Midwife in charge, said of the scenario facing the Human Milk Bank.
‘We noticed before Christmas that stocks were getting low. Maternity units have been ridiculously busy. The tiniest babies are the ones who need donor milk, you can hold them in the palm of your hand.
‘In the last 12 months we’ve helped more twins, triplets, quins than ever before. It is a challenge.’
She said they generally provide about 200 litres of milk every month, and would typically have 600 litres in stock at a time.
However, the bank currently has just two weeks’ supply in stock meaning it is at crisis point.
The Milk Bank is run by the Western Trust NHS in Northern Ireland, with other trusts paying into costs. The HSE covers the processing costs milk used in hospitals in the Republic. Milk Bank technician Vivienne Carson tests each batch and ensures the milk is suitable for use. Applicant donors will have answered a detailed questionnaire.
Donations that pass stringent tests can be stored for six months, going to maternity units when needed. In emergency cases that fall out of hours, the Blood Bike network will step in.
Donor mothers usually agree to give a set volume of milk over a three-month period. In some tragic cases where a baby has died, the mother has contacted the Milk Bank to donate her remaining supply of milk before it dries up.
Meanwhile, other women become donors after being grateful recipients themselves. One mother who had needed three bottles of milk after a difficult birth, later contacted Ann to say she wanted to donate as a thank you gesture.
Ann said: ‘People are so generous. Donors are not paid, we don’t pay people because there is a worry people might turn in cow’s milk, which would be very risky for the babies. They receive a small badge: that’s it. They’re just good people.’
She added: ‘I know the ladies of Ireland are rallying around. The breastfeeding Facebook pages are hopping. We just need to get stores back up to where we were.’
A HSE spokeswoman said about the donated milk: ‘Breastmilk is not only nutrition for these babies but it is also their medicine.’
‘Maternity units have been ridiculously busy’
‘Need to get stores back up to where we were’