Donated breast milk builds little miracles

BABY Lewis weighed just 505 grams when he was born 12 weeks early, but is now a much healthier 2.6kg thanks to donated breast milk.

Lewis is one of more than 300 preterm babies at the Royal Hobart Hospital who have benefited from donated breast milk in the last four years to help them grow in the absence of their mother’s milk. Sourced from the Queensland Milk Bank in Brisbane, the pasteurised donor human milk is safe to use with strict donor screening and pre and post pasteurisation testing of milk.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said the initiative supported Tasmanian families during what could be a really stressful time.

“I commend the very generous donors around Tasmania,

and all our hardworking health staff, for making this wonderful program such a success,” she said.

Lactation consultant Christina Galloway said being able to set up the program to deliver pasteurised donor human milk to the smallest Tasmanians had been a huge achievement.

Sandy Bay mum of two Irene Tiang used donor milk for her baby Lewis, who was born via emergency caesarean at 28 weeks gestation on May 22.

Lewis weighed just 505g when he was born, but is now thriving, and mum is hopeful of heading home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit soon.

Mrs Tiang said it had been a relief to know there was donor milk available for Lewis.

“It took about two weeks for me to cover all his feeds and I was pleased my very tiny baby could have something safe and appropriate for his premmie tummy until my milk came in,” Mrs Tiang said.

People interested in donating breast milk for preterm or unwell babies can find out more at https://metronorth.health. qld.gov.au/rbwh/healthcareservices/milk-bank