start to a baby's life ensuring they get all the goodness and nutrients they require.
However there can be circumstances which prevent a mother being able to breast feed her baby and this is where breast milk donation comes in to being.
Often if a baby is born prematurely, it takes a few days for the new mother's body to adjust, or she may be too ill to feed the baby herself. Donating breast milk is an excellent way of assisting her in getting over these hurdles.
Because donor milk is the nearest thing to the mother's own milk, it is the best food to give to the new born baby. Breast milk is made for human babies and contains special immune properties, hormones and growth factors along with lots of other types of nutrients.
Many of the women who donate milk are 'giving back' because they were helped themselves in similar circumstances. Donation is still possible even if your child has not needed help. New recruits are always being sought.
It is often the overwhelming experience of childbirth that makes a mother feel empathy for those unfortunate ones who have a premature or sick baby.
Most donors give about 30ml to 100ml a day but it is more important for the donations to be expressed regularly rather than the actual amount given. The first donation must be made within six months of starting to breastfeed.
If contraception is being used, donors are required to take the progesterone-only contraceptive pill and if asthmatic use asthma inhalers as infrequently as possible. If necessary. Donors should not use any other medication, drink more than two units of alcohol per day, smoke, or drink more than seven cups of coffee a day.
Should the donor develop mastitis or rubella or if she has recently had a rubella vaccination, donations must discontinue.
Milk can be donated by expressing into a sterile plastic container provided by the milk bank and stored in the freezer. You will find it easier to express from the other breast whilst your baby is feeding due to the increased flow of milk. There still should be a sufficient milk supply for your own baby as your body will adjust to meet the increasing demand.
When you have established a sufficient milk supply for your baby you can begin donating. It is usually recommended that a month or two after your baby's birth is the right time to begin. The milk bank will ask you specific types of questions about your health and lifestyle just to make sure you are suitable, you will also be asked to have a blood test to determine whether you have any infections that can be passed on through your milk to the baby.
You will also need to have a blood test to ascertain whether you have any infections that will be passed on through your milk.
It has been established that human milk is best for baby as it contains growth factors that help protect immature tissue, promote maturation and healing of any damaged tissue. It also contains unique nutrients, enzymes, hormones and immunological and anti-inflammatory properties.
Donated breast milk is usually given via a doctor's prescription due to a medical reason when the mother is unable to provide herself. Ill and premature babies usually get prioritised.
To avoid disease transmission, the milk is processed through a series of steps involving scrubbing, pouring, mixing, filling pasteurising (to kill bacteria and viruses), testing and freezing.