Wednesday, December 28, 2011

BBC News - 'Overwhelming' response to appeal for new mums to donate breast milk

Last fall the milk bank in Irvinestown, Ireland, found its stores of donated human milk at critically low levels, and after an appeal more than 100 women came forward and now the milk bank is having to purchase a new freezer to store all that has been donated. This is good news in the short term. In the long-term, if every new mother were made aware of the importance of human milk and the need for donors, would there continue to be shortages and urgent calls for donors?
"BBC News - 'Overwhelming' response to appeal for new mums to donate breast milk: 'Overwhelming' response to appeal for new mums to donate breast milk
28 December 2011 Last updated at 02:01 ET

Anne McCrea said the appeal "had done wonders".

A service that helps premature and seriously ill babies has had an overwhelming response to an appeal for new mums to donate breast milk.

The Human Milk Bank in Irvinestown is used for babies in neo-natal units across Ireland who cannot be fed by their own mothers.

In September stocks had reached a critically low level.

Since highlighting the situation more than a hundred new mums have come forward.

The service is now having to buy an additional freezer to store the milk.