The sole human milk bank located on the island of Ireland is urging more mothers to contribute their breast milk.
The care provided at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, assists premature and ill infants in neonatal units across Ireland.
The Western Health Trust mentioned that hospitals are still facing significant pressure during the summer season, when individuals are on vacation and there is a steady flow of donors.
Aoibh Comer contributed her breastmilk to the service in 2024 and expressed her “deep gratitude” to her baby son Tádhg for “giving her the chance to assist in caring for other babies in need.”
‘Please, please do it’
Ms. Comer told MG NEWS DAYNews NI that she “just knew she had to do it.”
She learned about the service through a Northern Ireland Breastfeeding community group on social media.
The 25-year-old shared, ‘I was eager to donate milk from the beginning of my breastfeeding experience, aware that the human body is capable of producing something so beneficial and that I could provide milk for the small babies who need it the most.’
There is no alternative that fully replicates breastmilk, and the advantages that babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) receive from it are extremely helpful for their small but significant growth.
A former healthcare professional from Forkill in County Armagh is encouraging other mothers to give blood.
“I would advise anyone in a position to give, please, please do so,” she said,
The team makes it very simple, they are extremely helpful and warm.
There’s a wonderful sense of accomplishment when you finish your final milk bottle for donation, and I’m truly thankful to my little son for providing us with this chance.
Human breast milk benefits preterm and ill infants by aiding in the development of their immune system, as well as their eyes and brain.
It may also offer protection against illnesses that can impact infants born prematurely or with low birth weight.
Especially, it can assist in safeguarding the digestive tract from bursting – a condition that could be fatal.
The service also assists mothers of twins, triplets, and quadruplets who are unable to generate sufficient breast milk.
Last year, the service supplied over 1,000 liters of donor breast milk to departments in 27 hospitals across Ireland, supporting 783 premature infants, including 223 who were part of a multiple birth.
‘Life or death’ service
Susan Rogers, the public health lead nurse at the Western Trust, stated that the bank is grateful to the donor mothers who have supplied breast milk to numerous infants since the initiative began in 2000.
She said to MG NEWS DAYNews NI, “the service is really a matter of life or death.”
“When you talk to someone who has both given and received breast milk, you can quickly sense the emotions involved,” she said.
The truth is that for extremely premature infants, breast milk plays a crucial role in their recovery process.
They possess an underdeveloped digestive and immune system, and breast milk aids in all of this.
Without breast milk, they may become even more ill, so for those with premature infants, it is of utmost importance.
‘Lovely experience’
Sarah Haugh’s daughter Emily was born at 25 weeks and began receiving Sarah’s breast milk immediately.
“I soon began preparing full meals and my freezer quickly became full,” she said to MG NEWS DAYNews NI.
The hospital’s feeding tube specialist mentioned that she opted to donate, a procedure she described as “extremely straightforward.”
Sarah managed to contribute 58 liters within seven months.
“It has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience,” she remarked.
The trust is seeking involved mothers to contact the Human Milk Bank team via itswebsite.
- Call for donations of breast milk to fulfill the need
- Breast milk donated provided my baby with a strong beginning
- Breast milk supply resumes operation
