Mothers own milk is the first choice for any infant, however some mothers have difficulty providing enough of their own breast milk particularly when there babies are born premature.
It can be more difficult for mothers of premature infants to initiate and maintain their milk supply due to stress and especially if they are separated from their babies or they have been ill during pregnancy.
Pasteurised donated breast milk is invaluable for babies in NICU because its gold standard nutrition recommended by WHO and provides unique protection from infections that cannot be replicated. It is up to the parents if they chose to pasturise and will need to do this at home, until we have milk banks across the country.
Premature babies fed breast milk are six times less likely to suffer a life threatening gastrointestinal condition called Necrotising Enterocolitis.
They also spend less time in the neonatal unit saving thousands.