Human Milk Bank Service appeals for more donor mums

Eliza Henry was born at just 24 weeks and was the recipient of donor breast milk.
Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 1st Jul 2022
Last updated 1st Jul 2022

The Western Trust’s Human Milk Bank service based at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen is appealing for more donor mums to come forward and help to provide essential donor breast milk for babies in neonatal units in hospitals throughout Ireland as we go into the busy Summer period.

Amanda Henry's daughter Eliza was born prematurely at just 24 weeks and is still in hospital.

She was a recipient of donor breast milk in her early weeks of life and Amanda - who has become a donor herself - says that was vital.

"The reason I donated was that we saw so many babies come through the unit, so tiny, and Eliza was so fragile when she was born - that I was grateful that she was able to have donor milk to start off with and for all the care she received.

"It was important for me to give something back and, if I could help other babies in some way, then I really wanted to do that."

Eliza is now doing well and Amanda and her family hope to have home with them next month.

Liz Bailie, Human Milk Bank Co-ordinator expressed her thanks to all our milk bank donors for their support.

She said: "We are indebted to our donor mums who have continued to provide essential donor breast milk for babies in neonatal units in hospitals throughout Ireland.

Eliza Henry is now healthier, due in part to breast miok donations

"The Human Milk Bank staff are working very hard to ensure this vital service remains available to all our vulnerable premature babies, particularly as we go into the busy Summer months as we know from previous years this can be a time when neonatal units require additional stocks of donor milk.”

Liz added: “In 2021 the Human Milk Bank provided donor milk for 844 premature babies, of which 234 were either a twin or a triplet. So you can see it is essential that we continue to recruit donors at this time. I would appeal to expectant mums to consider becoming a donor and for our donor mums to spread the word about the Human Milk Bank as this is the best way to help us recruit new mums!”

How to donate

If you would like to find out more about the Human Milk Bank and becoming a donor please contact the Human Milk Bank on Tel: (028) 68628333 or email tmb.swah@westerntrust.hscni.net

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