Wales’ first breast milk bank

A breast milk bank has been established up in Wales to aid ill and preterm infants whose parents cannot make enough herself.

Until until Wales’ hospitals depended on deliveries from Chester and Birmingham.

Women having milk to spare will be able to donate at the new centre at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital.

The bank is the outcome of a cooperation between Swansea University, Swansea Bay health board and the Human Milk Foundation.

When Sarah Cude’s baby Jacob was born eight weeks early, she struggled to make enough milk.

The 32-year-old, from Swansea, said: “He was whisked to be cared for immediately after before I was even allowed to hold him.

“Because he was taken away, clearly it’s tougher to build your own breastfeeding supply when your baby’s not with you.”

Jacob had to depend on donor milk which had been sent from England, but Ms Cude thought it assisted his growth.

She said: “It removed a great weight off my shoulders, since I didn’t have the burden of ‘my baby’s not receiving enough milk, he’s not going to develop’.”

According to consultant neonatologist Geraint Morris, premature babies are more susceptible to illness than babies born at full term.

Some are life-threatening, and breast milk can aid in their recovery.

Mr Morris stated that the incidence of these life-threatening illnesses was decreasing and infant survival rates were improving as a result of donor milk.

Additionally, the hub will enable local women to donate their milk – many of whom have previously been unable to do so due to logistical challenges associated with transporting their milk to banks in England.
Kirsty Bakerally, of Cardiff, produces more milk than her five-month-old Chloe can consume and felt obligated to donate it to someone in need.

She was screened and had her blood tested for infections prior to donating.

She has been freezing her excess milk in bottles for two months.

It is then collected by volunteers from Blood Bikes Wales and processed, labelled, and sent for heat treatment to ensure its safety.

It is then transported to Singleton Hospital, where it is stored until it is needed in neonatal intensive care units.
Ms Bakerally stated that if her baby required milk, she would be grateful for the assistance of other mothers.

Jacob is thriving as a result of the breast milk he received during his early weeks.

Now that Ms Cude has established her own milk supply, she intends to donate to Swansea’s milk bank.

“To return the favour is the icing on the cake. In a sense, it’s coming full circle “she continued.

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