The United Kingdom Association For Milk Banking
How Donating human Breastmilk Helps sick and premature Babies
Feb 26, 2009
The United Kingdom Association for Milk Banking (UKAMB) is a registered charity that supports human milk banking. Its motto “Every Drop Counts” reflects the belief that the provision of donor breastmilk makes an important contribution to the care of the premature and sick infants who receive it.
The charity was set up just over a decade ago to provide practical support and guidance to UK milk banks on standards and practices. It currently receives no funding from the Department of Health despite clinical evidence for the benefits of donor milk.
Milk banks rely on the kindness of breastfeeding mothers who donate surplus milk. Donor mums undergo screening, which includes blood tests for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and also Human T-cell leukaemia virus. The milk is pasteurised (heat treated to 62.5°C for 30 minutes) making it safe to feed to sick and premature babies in neonatal units around the country.
Suitability of human Milk for premature Babies
There is a considerable body of evidence for the benefits of human milk feeding for preterm infants and it continues to accumulate.
- Human milk is easier to digest than formula milk and the presence of the enzyme lipase in human milk helps the baby digest milk fat more efficiently.
- Anti-infective and anti-inflammatory agents in human milk protect the baby from potentially serious bacterial infections.
- Human milk contributes to better vision, which may be due to the types and ratios of fatty acids in it.
- Human milk feeding has been linked to lower blood pressure later in life.
- Human milk may contribute to higher intelligence and improved motor development.
See The Breastfeeding Answer Book La Leche League International, third revised edition 2003; 283–287.
The UKAMB aims to supply milk to infants according to priority of need rather than chance location of birth. Many milk banks will collect from donors outside their areas. There are currently only 17 human milk banks in the UK and most operate within NHS hospital trusts and often depend on public funding to keep them running.
Demand for Donor Breastmilk Growing
The demand for donor milk in neonatal units is growing as more clinicians, nurses and parents become aware of the protective qualities, especially when babies are unable to receive their own mothers’ milk. The milk of a mother who delivers prematurely is ideally suited to the nutritional needs of her baby. However, mothers may not be able to provide their own breastmilk due to illness at the time of birth, medications and/or the stress of having a tiny sick baby in hospital. They are grateful if they are fortunate to be in a hospital that uses a milk bank.
Mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding and whose baby is less than six months old may consider donating. Mothers who are breastfeeding babies under six months, however, should be cautious of the priority of their own baby’s needs if they intend to donate milk and may want to speak to a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counsellor about managing these needs.
Choosing to donate breastmilk can make a big difference to a new little life.
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