The mothers milk bank was born out of the need of one little boy Ty. His mothers' milk supply was too low and after struggling for weeks with trying every formula on the market, as well as importing formula from the USA, Ty's health continued to decline.
Ty's mother, Danielle had breast fed her first two children, without any problems. Danielle then developed polycystic ovary disease, which impacted on her production of milk. Danielle continued to breastfeed Ty, express frequently and was taking medication to help increase her own milk supply. Ty's weight loss continued and a supplement of artificial formula was commenced. Ty reacted to the formula, by developing a rash, swelling of the mouth and symptoms of distress after feeds. After struggling for weeks with trying every formula on the market, as well as importing formula from the USA, Ty's health continued to decline. Ty's paediatrician believed human milk from another mother was the only option to save Ty.
Danielle contacted her Lactation Consultant, Jenny Jones to see if there was a way to access donor mother's milk for Ty. Jenny Jones phoned and asked how we would be able to help. I had been conducting research on the well established overseas milk banks and the international best practise guidelines utilised. A team of volunteer health professionals, ABA members, breastfeeding mothers, families and the business community joined together and the mothers' milk bank was born.
Ty began receiving pasteurised donor mothers milk and the improvement was dramatic. Ty started gaining weight and delayed developmental milestones resulting from inadequate nutrition began to improve. During Ty's illness, Danielle had stopped going out with Ty because of the comments from strangers and well meaning friends on Ty's malnutrition.
Danielle twice had to ration the donor milk, when there was a shortage of funds and milk. Hospitalisation was required on both occasions, with Ty recovering quickly once given donor milk. After the first admission to hospital, Ty would point to Danielle's breast and then point to the freezer, crying for milk, that He knew was there. It was heart breaking for Danielle's family to have experienced this. After the second hospital admission Ty would take bottles of donor milk and hide them in his bedroom. Ty is now a happy, healthy, thriving boy who is reaching his developmental milestones.
The mothersmilkbank has gone on to provide 136 litres of pasteurised donor milk to sick preterm infants, and it is a joy to see the transformation from a baby struggling on artificial milk to a happy contented healthy baby receiving real human milk. In 2008 the milk bank began working towards a public community milk bank to be established. While the evidence is there with the Federal and State Government to demonstrate that not only baby's lives but millions of health care dollars would be saved annually. No funding has yet been allocated.
The mothersmilkbank has had to decline requests for milk from mothers with breast cancer, babies experiencing allergy, preterm babies, mothers unable to breastfeed while on particular medications and babies whose mothers are unable to produce adequate volumes of milk. The mothersmilkbank will continue to work with both the Federal and State Government to invest and support this preventative health infrastructure.
There is a beauty in our culture of helping others in need, and the mothers milk bank team see this beauty ,in the multitude of nursing mothers who wish to donate their milk to the milk bank and the families who have provided the financial support. The income received from families across Australia has kept the milk bank operating, by providing the donor packs and bottles to store the donor milk. The mothersmilkbank team say "Thank you" to all the families across Australia for your support of human milk for human babies.
This article has been supplied by Mothers Milk Bank.
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