Every drop counts on International Prematurity Awareness Month
There is a great need to raise awareness of the positive impact that breast milk has in saving the lives of preterm infants.
World Premature Day on 17th November aims to raise awareness of the issues around premature babies and the challenges faced by both baby and parents.
One in 10 babies is born premature and 15 million babies die world wide each year from being born too soon, making this one of the leading causes of under 5 year old mortality.
There is a great need to raise awareness of the positive impact that breast milk has in saving the lives and improving the outcome of the preterm infant.
Orphaned and critically ill neonates need this life-saving pasteurized expressed breast milk which helps to reduce the development of respiratory and gastric problems, to improve their chance of survival and to promote their growth and development.
Hillcrest Private Hospital will be celebrating World Premature Day on Monday 17th November along with people all over the country, but focus this year is on human breast milk donation and the hospital is calling all breast feeding moms to consider Breast Milk Donation.
Donating breast milk is an intensely personal act benefiting both the donating mom and the preterm infant. The more you express the more that you will produce ensuring an adequate supply for your baby, while giving the gift of life to an infant less fortunate.
The Human Milk Bank of South Africa (HMBASA) is a non-profit making organization that screens, collects, processes and distributes pasteurized expressed breast milk to orphanages and Neonatal Intensive Care Units where it is needed most.
The recipients of the breast milk are vulnerable pre-term infants, babies orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS and special cases where mothers are unable to supply sufficient milk for their babies.
This milk has been donated by volunteer breastfeeding mothers who are not related to the recipient infants.
All that is involved in being a breast milk donor is to be a healthy breast feeding mom who is not on any medication, and to fill in a short questionnaire.
There are a few simple guidelines about expressing and storing of the milk, before you deliver it to you nearest collection point. Collection bottles are provided.
Hillcrest Private Hospital is a collection depot for the Milk Bank and is committed to supporting this project.
Mothers wishing to know more about the breast milk donor programme can go to Hillcrest Private Hospital on Monday 17 between 09h00 and 15h00 or you e-mail Ann Leslie on annel@hillcresthospital.co.za for more information.
Remember, every drop counts.
