Breastfeeding mothers ‘pay it forward’ by donating excess milk

Breastmilk is considered the gold standard in infant nutrition and provides invaluable immune protection for babies in the first months of their lives.

For premature babies and newborns who are unable to breastfeed or whose mothers’ breastmilk cannot, for whatever reason, be used to feed them, donated human breastmilk provides the best possible start in life.

On the backdrop of a World Breastfeeding Week: Awareness campaign held in Randfontein, the Herald thought we’d share some information about breastmilk.

Verena Bolton, national coordinator of Netcare Ncelisa Human Milk Banks, explained that the properties of breastmilk, particularly when it is appropriate to the age of the baby, assists in the prevention of a host of possible infections.

While breastmilk is by no means a ‘silver bullet’, the natural protection it provides through vital immune factors contained within the milk certainly benefits babies.

“It is particularly advantageous for premature neonates who have minimal, if any, acquired or innate immune protection because they have been born so early,” she explained.

Between November 2017 and the end of June 2019, over 800 babies received donated breastmilk through Netcare Ncelisa Human Milk Banks, an initiative of the Netcare Foundation.

Breastmilk is donated by eligible women who are breastfeeding and have excess milk, which they express under specific hygienic conditions and deliver it to Netcare Ncelisa human milk banks or depots based at 37 Netcare maternity facilities. The milk is then pasteurised, and then it is tested, frozen and safely stored

Many of our donors are mothers whose babies were once recipients of breastmilk from Ncelisa, and they see it as an opportunity of assisting others in need or ‘paying it forward’.”

According to Verena, breastmilk is incomparable with formula feeds in terms of immune benefits.

“None of the formulas on the market have the antibody IgA. IgA, which is one of a range of immunoglobulins, confers immunity to neonates until their immune system has matured sufficiently to start producing its own IgA. Formulas also don’t have oligosaccharides, which are prebiotics and prime the baby’s digestive system with normal gut flora; and lactoferrin, which destroys harmful microorganisms. As such, in the majority of cases breastmilk is considered to offer the best possible start in life for babies.

Mothers produce colostrum, which has been hailed as nature’s ‘superfood’ for newborn babies, in the first few days after birth.

“Colostrum, also referred to as ‘liquid gold’ owing to its yellowish orange colour and highly beneficial properties, is eventually replaced by mature breastmilk around the third to fourth day after birth, and the milk’s composition continues to evolve in line with the needs of the growing baby.

“Babies whose health is compromised in some way receive the most benefit, particularly from age-appropriate milk, and this can play an invaluable role in their survival and in supporting their development and recovery.”

In February 2019, Netcare Ncelisa Human Milk Banks also started providing breast milk to hospitals in the public sector, including Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, while discussions are underway with Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital to also supply them with donated breastmilk.

“Between February and July, more than 80 newborn babies, including 44 in June and July alone, received donor milk through the Ncelisa initiative, and we are aiming to expand access to donor milk to more public hospitals,” explained Mande Toubkin, Netcare’s general manager of emergency, trauma, transplant and corporate social investment.

“Given the invaluable – one might say ‘priceless’ – health benefits widely attributed to breastmilk, it is noteworthy that Netcare Foundation, through Netcare Ncelisa Milk Banks, supplies this milk free of charge for newborns both within the public and private sectors,” she said.

Our aim is to make breastmilk accessible to as many premature, vulnerable and high-risk babies as possible, and we therefore encourage mothers who understand the important benefits of breastmilk to consider becoming donors,” Mande said.

Prospective donors are screened for a number of health conditions that could impact the safety of the milk, and must complete a lifestyle questionnaire and consent form. They are then provided with information about how to safely express, store and transport their milk to a Ncelisa milk bank or depot. Women who are interested in becoming donors can contact any of the 37 Netcare hospitals with maternity facilities for more information.