Breast Milk Donation: Everything You Need To Know
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast milk donations save 800,000 lives every year. Donating breast milk is unselfish and has many benefits.
Breastfeeding is not always possible for all women. But don’t worry, there are many viable alternatives to feed your baby these days, such as: B. Banks for breast milk donation.
Breast milk contains all the nutrients babies need up to 6 months of age, so it is recommended as the sole diet during this period.
Breast milk has been shown to prevent infections and allergies and meet all of the nutritional requirements to promote the development and growth of newborns. If you want more information about breast milk donation backed by experts and studies, read on.
How important are breast milk donations?
Breast milk donation is important because it saves lives. As we mentioned earlier, there are several situations when women are unable to breastfeed their baby.
May 19th is currently World Breast Milk Donation Day. This name was created to raise people’s awareness of the importance of this work, as it is used every day to save the lives of premature babies and to improve the life expectancy of all children worldwide.
According to the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO and WHO) , consumption of this food is considered vital for the growth and development of babies.
The good news is that there are more than 500 milk banks in 37 countries around the world. The donation of breast milk is a selfless act. The process is simple and more and more banks are joining in.
Also read: Storing breast milk: you have to pay attention to this
What are milk banks and how do they work?
The Spanish Association of Human Milk Banks (AEBLH) defines milk banks as specialized organizational centers that are responsible for promoting breastfeeding and in which human milk donated by selected mothers is received, processed, analyzed, stored and distributed.
After a standstill in the establishment and use of human milk banks in the 1980s, these are on the rise again, saving the lives of many newborns. Believe it or not, these cases are quite common.
How do human milk banks work? This is usually the procedure:
- Selection: All breast milk donors are selected and have to complete an interview with those responsible for the organization. It’s important to pay attention to whether you have a communicable disease, whether you are taking certain medications, or have unhealthy habits.
- Collection equipment : In many cases, selected donors will be provided with collection equipment, containers and labels, as well as instructions on how to collect breast milk.
- Processing: The storage also takes place in this step. This is a sterile environment where microbiological tests are carried out to make sure there are no excitatory germs present. They will be kept in a freezer until the stated delivery time.
- Dispensing: It is important to note that breast milk can only be dispensed with a doctor’s prescription.
What should I consider before donating breast milk?
One of the most common questions asked before starting breast milk donation is whether your own baby may run out of milk. It is important to know that this cannot happen.
You can be sure that your little one will continue to receive the amount they need for optimal development. In fact, the good news is that expressing increases your milk supply and allows you to meet your normal needs for the first 6 months in full.
Blood tests
In addition to speaking to a milk bank employee, you cannot donate if you have diseases or infections that can be transmitted this way, such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C, or hepatitis B. So they may have a blood test done to determine if they are present to rule out any of these diseases.
Selfless work
Another interesting fact is that there is no financial reward for donating breast milk. It is selfless work only for those mothers who want to help other babies and their mothers because they cannot provide food for their little ones.
The greatest satisfaction, however, is being able to help the children who need it so much. Any healthy mother with a good lifestyle can do this!
Good habits
Make sure that you have a healthy lifestyle, that you are eating properly , that you do not have any communicable diseases, and that you have a desire to participate. There are definitely many babies who need breast milk to survive.
If you have any further questions, please contact the customer service representatives at the human milk bank in your area.
It’s not painful
If you don’t have sore nipples, expressing breast milk isn’t painful either. For example, there are electric breast pumps where you can set the speed to a level that is comfortable for you.
On various maternity blogs, women say that using a special oil or lubricant for this area is a good option so that you don’t get sensitive skin.
What is the procedure for becoming a donor?
Becoming a breast milk donor is a relatively straightforward process. You can even talk to the bank over the phone.
You will be asked about your medical history and other things to find out if you use drugs or not. Generally, a family doctor is responsible for running the tests and producing a positive report.
If you already know a breast milk bank near you, you can contact them by phone and make an appointment for a conversation. Next comes the pumping process; the bank itself will send you the containers and the necessary accessories so that you can do it at home. You will receive these products with detailed instructions.
After you’ve expressed the milk, you’ll need to put it in containers that have labels on them. Your individual donor number is on it. The milk needs to be kept in the freezer for 2 months, but the length of time may vary depending on what you have agreed with the bank.
After that, the transport is a matter that either the bank or the mother takes care of herself. Breast milk should be transported in a cool box or portable refrigerator so that the cold chain is not broken.
If the milk thaws, you will need to add some ice to the container to keep it intact and not damaged, at least until it arrives at the control center.
As you can see, becoming a donor is a simple process that you can easily complete from home. Don’t worry, there will be no shortage of tips and advice.
If you have the slightest doubt, you can turn to the milk bank staff, who are always on hand to help you with this process. The best part is that you are helping save the lives of many babies!
Who gets the milk from these banks?
The banks’ milk is distributed to babies with a low birth weight, especially those who weigh less than 1,500 grams. But it is also necessary for babies at risk of digestive and infectious diseases. Most of these cases are about reducing the likelihood of newborn death.
It should be noted, however, that in order to receive milk from these organizations, the baby will need a doctor’s prescription. Either for serious reasons or because the mother is unable to feed it herself. In some cases, it is also used to feed babies who have had digestive surgery.
Breast milk donation is changing the world
Breast milk is also medicine. While there is no financial reward, many mothers find satisfaction in helping save lives. In fact, in some cases, expressing provides pain relief for women who have plenty of breast milk.
Remember that your baby will never run out of milk; you will continue to meet normal needs while helping other little ones have a better quality of life in or out of the hospital. Get advice from the staff at the nearest milk bank.
