Donor human milk bank has been opened for all premature babies in NSW. 

As the first state-wide initiative, this will be jointly run by Australian Red Cross Blood Service and NSW Health. 

“Around 1000 babies are born every year in NSW at less than 32 weeks gestational age, or of a very low birth weight and many need specialised care,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said. 

“Break milk is liquid gold for these little ones at this critical time, as it contains all the vital nutrients essential for growth and protection against disease,” Mr Hazzard said. “Many mums of premmie babies can experience problems with their milk supply but now mums can access donor milk, which efforts to boost their own supply continue.” 

The service will collect excess break milk from donor mothers, which will be sent to a processing centre in Sydney, be thoroughly tested and distributed. 

Pasteurised milk has been recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the best and first alternative to infant formula for insufficient supply of the mother’s milk. 

“So, for example, at 26 weeks, possibly up to 32 weeks, mum’s breast milk just doesn’t come in. It takes a while for that to happen- if at all. This milk bank will allow us to ensure that those families, those little babies who need the breast milk, can have it in the safest possible way,” Mr Hazzard said. 

This initiative has already been launched in South Australia in September 2018. 

“Just like a blood bank, the Milk Bank will screen donors, collect, process and test the donated breast milk, then track and distribute this precious resource,” Australian Red Cross Blood Service spokesperson Jenni Mack said.