How donating breast milk can help save a baby's life
Tens of thousands of babies around the world rely on donated breast milk for vital nourishment, immune support and, in some cases, survival.
Only 22% of babies in South Africa are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, which is far behind the global target of 70% by 2030. This is according to the latest stats released by UNICEF South Africa.
Mothers are advised to exclusively breastfed until the age six months. From two years old, it's advised to continue breastfeeding while adding age-appropriate solid foods.
Sadly, some mothers are unable to breastfeed due to medical conditions. Below are some of the medical reasons, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which can prevent mothers from breastfeeding:
- Mothers who are HIV-positive and are not on treatment, or are on ART but have not achieved sustained viral suppression during pregnancy.
- Mothers who have suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease.
- Mothers who have monkeypox virus infection.
- Mothers who have an active herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection with lesions (sores) present on the breast.
- Mothers who are undergoing diagnostic imaging with radiopharmaceuticals.
- Mothers who are infected with untreated brucellosis.
- Mothers who are taking certain medications.
Children who can benefit from donated breastmilk
The following children can benefit from donated breast milk:
- Premature babies.
- Newborns weighing between 1.5 kg and 2.5 kg.
- Infants dealing with severe feed intolerances or allergies.
- Infants recovering from surgery.
- Babies whose mothers are ill, undergoing medical treatments, or temporarily unable to produce enough milk.
- Orphaned or abandoned infants in healthcare facilities.
The benefits of human milk
A woman’s milk contains colostrum, which is often called a ‘superfood’ or ‘liquid gold’ because of its properties. It has very high levels of immunoglobulins, which are antibodies. It also has white blood cells to fight infections.
Another benefit of breast milk is that it supports a healthy gut microbiome.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the benefits of human milk to infants who suffer from very low birthweight include:
- decreased risk for necrotising enterocolitis (a serious illness resulting from inflammation and death of intestinal tissue that occurs most often in premature infants, especially those who are fed formula rather than human milk)
- late-onset sepsis
- chronic lung disease
- retinopathy of prematurity
- and neurodevelopmental impairment
Who can donate breastmilk?
- Healthy mothers who are not smoking, using drugs or taking any medication that can affect the milk.
- The donor must also not be a drinker.
- All mothers will undergo screening procedures that include HIV testing, syphilis, TB, and hepatitis B.
All donated breast milk is also tested.
To donate, please visit Netcare hospitals or the South African Breastmilk Reserve.South African Breastmilk Reserve.
You can search your nearest milk bank here.
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