HSE highlights its Human Milk Bank service on World Prematurity Day

As the HSE marks World Prematurity Day, it is reminding mothers of pre-term born babies that it is possible to avail of support from a Human Milk Bank service.

In addition, the HSE is also appealing for more mothers to donate their breast milk to the only such reserve in Ireland, which is located at the NHS’s South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh and with whom the HSE has a service arrangement.

The World Health Organisation’s World Prematurity Day is observed on the 17th of November each year, to raise awareness of pre-term birth and the concerns of pre-term babies and their families. Approximately one in 10 of all babies born worldwide are born pre-term.

Breast milk supports premature and sick babies, as it helps build their immune system and their eye and brain development. It can also prevent against diseases and potentially life-threatening gut and immune system related conditions which can affect premature or low birth weight babies.

The Human Milk Bank service also supports mothers of twins, triplets and quadruplets who are unable to produce enough milk of their own. The service also helps infants unable to benefit from breast milk, due to an accident suffered by their mother or even maternal loss. The Human Milk Bank is also key for new mothers who have undergone medical treatments like chemotherapy which can render their breast milk unfit for consumption.

Since it was established 25 years ago, the NHS’s Western Trust Human Milk Bank has helped thousands of neonatal babies all over Ireland – including those born at the National Maternity Hospital (Holles St., Dublin), University Hospital Waterford, Wexford General Hospital, St. Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny and Tipperary University Hospital (Clonmel) in the HSE’s Dublin and South East health region.

In 2024 the cross-border service provided over 1,000 litres of donor breast milk to units across 27 hospitals throughout Ireland. This precious lifesaving donor milk has helped 783 premature babies, of which 223 were either a twin or a triplet.

On World Prematurity Day, launching two sets of information leaflets (aimed respectively at patients and staff), promoting further awareness of the service and urging mothers on a breastfeeding journey to consider donating surplus milk, Paula Power (Operations Manager, Women and Neonatal Health Network, HSE Dublin and South East) said:

“Donating milk, knowing the human body can produce such goodness and that it can be supplied to the babies that need it most, is a wonderful thing to do. There is no substitute that completely matches breastmilk and the benefits babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in our hospitals can get from it is so beneficial for their growth.”

“There are, of course, comprehensive safety protocols applicable. This includes strict donor screening, health checks and milk filtering. Donors undergo blood tests and must meet criteria like being non-smokers and not having received certain medical procedures or visited specific countries recently. The donated milk is processed, which involves pasteurisation and rigorous testing, to ensure it is safe for premature and sick infants in neonatal units across Ireland.”

“After volunteering, registered donors receive sterilised bottles in the post. Milk that is built up can then be stored in the donor's freezer before being sent to the milk bank. Once an adequate supply is built up, the milk gets collected at the donor's address. Much of the time, the milk is collected by “Blood Bikes”, a charity which transports medical supplies to hospitals throughout Ireland.”

“In the HSE, we are continuing to experience a high demand for human milk and it is essential that we recruit donors on an ongoing basis. We 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.”