Mothers encouraged to donate breast milk
Mothers encouraged to donate human breast milk to wards helping needy infants
BREAST milk can save lives.
That was a strong message shared during the breast milk and human milk bank awareness drive at Lower uMfolozi War Memorial Regional Hospital in Empangeni on Thursday.
The purpose of the campaign was to offer information about the benefits of breast milk.
‘Children who are exclusively breastfed are 14 times more likely to survive in the first six months of life than formula-fed children.
‘Breast milk is always available at no cost and no preparation. Because it is already prepared, it is always in perfect condition, which means babies won’t suffer from malnutrition,’ said hospital CEO Nqobile Mkhwanazi.
‘Breastfed babies grow up healthy and strong and their immune system are boosted by ingredients elements contained in breast milk,’ she said.
Mothers were also encouraged to donate towards the milk bank which helps infants with sickly mothers who can’t produce breast milk.
The principle of milk banks is simple: mothers donate milk which is tested, pasteurized and then delivered to babies in need.
Mothers willing to donate undergo a screening procedure and the donated milk is supplied to vulnerable infants – meaning those who are pre-term, of low weight, abandoned or orphaned.
Often the reason why some women are unable to produce little or any milk is a result of stress, pain or a possible effect of a caesarean section.
To qualify as a donor, women must be healthy and lactating, be a non-smoker, not consume drugs or alcohol and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle.
At this stage the hospital receives approximately 15 liters a day, and according to dietitian Nicole Govender, a lot still needs to be done to ensure the bank has enough milk to supply to needy children.
‘Babies born less than 1.8kg can take in about 400ml a day. This means there is a high demand of milk and if other mothers in perfect health can willingly donate, it means we can help more children,’ said Govender.
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