Heard of a breast milk bank?

[stoked2be-a-ma]

My DP gave me a call today telling me that they are starting a breast milk bank in WA. Not sure if he is right or not but we had previously heard talk of it happening. Just curious to know, I think its a wonderful idea, what do you think?:yelclap:

[poshBecks]

HHHmmmm I dunno if I could let my kids drink milk from anyone elses boobs. It grosses me out a little :barf:
But I think if it doesn't gross you out it's a great idea.

[stoked2be-a-ma]

I just think its a wonderful idea for the prem babies that mothers arnt well enough to feed and the babies need the milk for health. Also for sick babies or children that could benefit from it. They do it over sees, they do pasturise it and I would assume it would be tested for any sort of infection ect. My bub has been hospitalised twice and I thank the lord I stuck with breast feeding, they said he may have not recovered so well if I wasnt.

[Jem]

HHHmmmm I dunno if I could let my kids drink milk from anyone elses boobs. It grosses me out a little :barf:
But I think if it doesn't gross you out it's a great idea.

lol.. i remember when lachy was a few weeks, and my mates bub was the same age.. my mum jokingly said something about my friend feeding lachy... should have seen the look my friend gave my mum...:laughing:

[jarrahsmumma]

At King Edward they are starting a BM bank, they are sterilising the milk, but they say there is no damage to the structure of the milk...hmmmm

my son has had the milk of others and loved it, it was such an amazing gift to give

[sopolicha]

There is an article in today's Courier Mail about the one in Brisbane that they are trying to open. They just need $350,000 to open it and keep it running for twelve months. Plenty of donors and babies waiting apparently.

[stoked2be-a-ma]

I would love to donate milk. there is a criteria I just found on the net:

You are a healthy woman whose child is less than 1 year of age and you don't drink alcohol, smoke, use over the counter medications or prescriptions, herbal or illegal drugs or vitamin supplements in excess of 100% of the RDA. A few medications are acceptable, including a multi-vitamin, low-dose progestin, birth control pills, insulin, and thyroid replacement. A lot of chemicals pass through breast milk and premies or sick babies have enough to handle.

Your doctor gives you the go ahead to donate your breast milk. You'll need to go through a health screening and blood test at the milk bank like you do at the blood bank, but if you are healthy and able to donate, milk banks need your breast milk. Blood testing may include testing for German measles, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, HIV 1 & 2, and HTLV. All testing is done by the milk bank at no cost to the donor.

Your milk will be pasteurized by the milk bank so that viruses are killed, but almost all of the passive immunity in breast milk will remain.
Unfortunately bubs is nearly one so I would not qualify.

[pippa]

HI Guys,

Yes there is a milk bank starting at KEMH and it will mainly be for prem babies to start with and hopefully if it turns out to be successful then they may be able to use it for term babies to. There are lots of milk banks around the world in some countries you even have to pay for the milk if you want it.

The milk is pasturised and all mum's have to go through a very strict screening process before there milk is accepted.

I think it is a great idea for mum's of prem babies so that the little bub's can get all the goodies from breast milk.

Cheers

[pegasus]

To each his own, but if for some reason I can't feed this bub of mine, he/she will be on formula.

My personal reasoning for this is that no matter what sort of stringent screening process they put the donors through - they might say they're non-smokers, non-drinkers, healthy food eaters, who knows what they do in their own home. I know I take better care of my diet when I'm feeding, and the thought that I don't know what the donor mother has eaten, would make me feel uneasy.

I know I'll be starting my own bank of EBM for my own bub from an early stage this time (it was too hard to express fresh milk each time for bub for daycare last time). I know my history of allergies, immunity etc - I'm sure there's some great ladies out there who would take care of themselves the same as I would, but I won't be betting my child's health on it.

[rach74]

I had a premmie baby last year. I had so much milk....I had too much milk!! I over flowed the freezers at the hosptal. My 2 freezers were full at home. I had to start tipping it out straight after I expressed. I wish they had milk banks up & running then.
There were so many other mums wanting to give their premmie babies breast milk but couldn't for one reason or another. I just wish I could've helped them in some way.
I think having the milk banks is a great idea.

[mumma bear]

Does anyone know how to donate. I have a freezer full of milk 22 600ml bottles which i intend to use but i express 200ml min per day and have more than enough for my bub. Can i simply express at home, freeze and take to KEMH when able? I realise i would have to be screened etc first but does anyone have further info?

[bubhub]

There's definitely one on the Gold Coast - if you've got details of a particular bank, can you email or pm me the details and I'll start a list of the banks on the main Bub Hub directory

thx

[mysonroger]

they used to do this in the old days..........in the 60s . my mum always had plenty of milk and the nuns, who were the midwives , were always asking her for milk for the other bubs. mum always gave it but then she said she just felt like a cow and was so tired so after a while, she stopped. i would give, but hope i didn't need any back. its great for weight loss too............aw shucks......i'm so superficial.