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How to donate breastmilkEver wanted to save a life? You can – just by donating a few drops of breastmilk. Breastmilk gives babies the best start possible in life but sometimes there are reasons why the mum of a newborn, particularly a premature baby, cannot breastfeed herself. The mum might be physically unable to breastfeed due to illness, or perhaps needs help to establish her milk supply in the first few days after having a premature baby. Many of the women who donate milk are giving back because they were helped themselves but you can donate even if your child has not needed help. Most donors give about 30ml to 100ml a day but it is more important for the donations to be regular than the amount given. An estimated 100 to 200 women donate at any one time, and new recruits are always being sought. Is there a milk bank near me?There are milk banks at the following hospitals:
What are the guidelines for donating?Donors have to be screened for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and a rare condition called HTLV. Donations must stop if the woman develops mastitis or rubella or recently had a rubella vaccination. Donors can take the progesterone only contraceptive pill and use asthma inhalers, if necessary, but cannot take any other medication, smoke, or drink more than two units of alcohol or seven cups of coffee a day. The first donation must be within six months of starting breastfeeding. Who should I contact?
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