4 week old baby needing donated breastmilk

[Phoenix's Mum]

Hello everyone :wave:

My SIL's friend just lost his wife and his 4 week old baby was breastfed. He is trying to deal with a lot but he asked my SIL if it was possible to get breastmilk in Victoria for his DD. Unfortunately we don't have a milk bank. (I think WA does, Australia's first?)

I've put my hand up for milk donation as I always have too much and can spare a few bottles of EBM a week, but is anyone else on here in Melbourne who is currently breastfeeding who either has an oversupply or can donate a few bottles a week?

He told SIL he knows he won't be able to give it to her exclusively but he really wants his DD to get the best in life despite losing her mum. I don't know the legality of this or whether it could be a health risk, but I know that in the US there are milk banks, so there must be something like that that could be done in order for others to donate?

Thanks for reading.

[Leeny]

Im sure there would be certain health risks that need to be looked into. As with blood banks, im sure the milk banks have all the milk screened for diseases and bacteria and the like. You'd have to look into it and how to go about it, and if people are willing to donate. Goodluck, sorry I dont know anything about it to help :hugs:

[Grizabella]

Let him know he can get in touch with the Australian Milk Bank here (http://www.mothersmilkbank.com.au/contact.htm). I was trying to find a specific one in Victoria, but couldnt manage to locate it, though there were a lot of mentions of one.

[Mum2Bug]

:hugs: I hope it all goes well in his search

[Phoenix's Mum]

I read through the website, but it is based in Queensland, and it currently only allowing donations from the Gold Coast and distributing in Qld.

I'm looking for donors in Victoria, I think the same guidelines would apply:

Donor health and lifestyle
If you are interested in becoming a donor, please contact your local milk bank. Staff there will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
The milk bank will need to know that you are in generally good health and that your baby is under 6 months of age when you start donating. You may continue to donate when your baby is older than this.
Some of the questions that you may be asked are:
• Do you have any medical condition?
• Do you routinely take any medicines including herbal remedies?

Answering yes to these questions does not mean that you cannot be a donor, but the milk bank staff may want to talk further to you.

• Do you smoke or use illegal drugs?
• Do you routinely drink more than 2 units of alcohol per day or 7 cups of caffeinated coffee or other caffeine-containing drinks per day?
• Have you tested positive for HIV 1 or 2, Hepatitis B or C, HTLV l or ll or syphilis?*

*If you answer yes to any of these questions the milk bank will not be able

What my SIL's friend is looking for is some mums in Melbourne who might be able to help out.

Can anyone help?

[bubhub]

You are a good friend and trying to do the right thing, but I think it would be good to have a chat with the child health service in your area - they might know if there is somebody to contact in your area and might be able to advise what, if any, screening needs to take place.

This is the number for Melbourne: Maternal & Child Health Service ph: 13 22 29

[Mackies_Mummy]

I think it's great he's trying to give his bubba the best he can. :thumbsup:

But I would be so so careful with this. Not everyone is honest and not everyone is aware of health problems they may have which may be transmitted by their breast milk. I wouldn't accept any milk from anyone I didn't know really well.

Just be careful please! I wish him good luck, what an awful thing to happen.

[~Emmylou~]

I feel awful for your friend and if I were in Vic I would love to help his little girl.

But I do agree with what others have pointed out already - breastmilk is a human fluid, just like blood. It is not safe to take BM from a stranger unscreened, for all the same reasons as it is not safe to take blood from a stranger, or have unprotected sex with one etc etc.
So please, be careful. :o

[dragonflyblu]

Good luck with it. If I was in melbourne I would definately help you out. I agree that you need to be really careful because I milk can transmit disease. I would ask anyone wanting to help to do a bloodtest.

But I am sure you will find others like us who are healthy, lactating mums with lots and lots of milk. It is such an awful thing to happen and my heart really goes out to your family. I am sure his wife would really appreciate this, i know as a BF mum I fear something happening to me.

[Phoenix's Mum]

Thankyou so much to everyone who as posted here with advice and messaged me with offers of breastmilk. I think this little girl is very lucky indeed to have such amazing support from strangers!

I rang and spoke to a few professionals who advised that after a blood test to confirm that the donor has no infections etc that are transmittable via breastmilk, it is fine to donate.

I'm waiting to hear back, as the father is trying to deal with his wife's funeral arrangements, so thanks to everyone for reading this, and if anyone else (we have 3 donors plus me so far, maybe they won't need formula after all?) has any advice or questions feel free to message me or post here.

:hugs:Thanks everyone