Doctors Call For Breast Milk Banks

Neonatal specialists say the lives of many premature babies could be saved if there were more breast milk donation banks in Australia. The first national breastfeeding conference is being held in Melbourne and will today hear about the success of the milk bank at Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital. The bank opened a year ago and has provided 55 premature babies with donated breast milk.

The bank’s manager Dr Ben Hartmann says breast milk is better for the immature immune and digestive systems than artificial formula. “When a mum does give birth prematurely, there can often be several reasons that she can’t provide her own breast milk,” he said. “During those days we need to feed babies intravenously so if we can actually provide donor milk and get those babies onto full feeds, mum’s milk then comes in and she can take over. “It means we can get those IV lines out and that’s a potential source of infection for babies.”

Dr Hartmann says the lives of more premature babies could be saved if there were banks in other cities. “Babies in our unit will be down to 23 weeks or 24 weeks gestation, I guess their immune system and their digestive system is quite immature,” he said. “We need to provide nutrition that’s appropriate and in easily digestible forms but we also know that breast milk contains a lot of immunological protective properties.”

Article from ABC News