Plea for human milk donations (BBC NEWS)

Urgent supplies of human milk are being sought to help save the lives of sick babies in Northern Ireland.
The Sperrin Lakeland Human Milk Bank, the only one of its kind in the province, needs donor breast milk as it is running low in supplies.

Based in County Fermanagh, the milk bank processes and stores the breast milk which is used to feed sick babies in hospitals and other specialist baby units throughout Ireland.


Sick babies can benefit from human breast milk


Breast milk, with its minerals, digestive enzymes and antibodies, has long been credited with keeping babies healthy.

But it is particularly good for post-operation babies because it is easier to digest than cow's milk formula.

Co-ordinator Anne McCrea said many people were unaware the milk bank existed, but appealed to nursing mothers for their help.

"Our milk goes out to all the neo-natal units in Northern Ireland. So we regularly help very, very tiny babies from as much as 500g up," she said.


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