02/10/2020
![Catherine McMahon, Health Visitor; Vivienne Carson, Milk Bank Technician; Elizabeth Taggart, Clerical Officer and Liz Bailie, Milk Bank Coordinator.](https://westerntrust.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Human-Milk-Bank-appeal-for-donors--350x197.jpg)
The Western Trust’s Human Milk Bank service are appealing for more donor mums to provide essential breast milk for premature and vulnerable babies in neonatal units in hospitals throughout Ireland.
Liz Bailie, Human Milk Bank Coordinator expressed her thanks to all our milk bank donors for their continued support during the Covid-19 Pandemic she said: ” We are indebted to our donor mums who have continued to donate precious breast milk for babies in neonatal units. From March 2020 to the end of August 2020 our wonderful mums have donated almost 750 litres of milk and they have helped 247 Premature and ill babies during this period. However, with the demand for breast milk increasing we need to recruit more mums to ensure we have enough supply over the winter months.”
“The Human Milk Bank staff are working very hard to ensure this vital service remains available to all our vulnerable babies, through these uncertain times. It is essential that we continue to recruit donors at this very challenging time and I would appeal to expectant mums to consider becoming a donor. We need mums to register with us before their baby is 12 weeks old. Breastfeeding is one of the best protections for babies and mothers are encouraged to continue breastfeeding, if they are able and continue to donate.”
Liz added: “We have changed how we collect donor milk because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We ask donors to keep donor milk in their freezer for two weeks to ensure that if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19 that they can inform the Human Milk Bank service. Thank you to all our mums who have donated and for the support of the Voluntary Blood Bikers, who continue to transport our much needed donor milk to hospital neonatal units across Ireland.”
If you would like find out more about the Milk Bank and becoming a donor please contact the Milk Bank on Tel: 028 6862 8333 or email TMB.SWAH@westerntrust.hscni.net