Queensland Milk Bank Urgently Needs Donor Breast Milk for Premature Babies

Are you a breastfeeding mum? Is your bub under the age of 12 months? Do you have a freezer full of excess milk?

If you answer yes to these three questions, then you may be able to help thousands of premature babies get the best start to life.

Queensland Milk Bank, the largest public milk bank in Australia, urgently needs frozen breast milk from mothers around Australia who qualify as donors. 

Located at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), the service has fed over 1400 babies thanks to 400 donor mums. Impressive, isn’t it?! The bank supplies breast milk to babies born at less than 34 weeks gestation.

You don’t have to live in Queensland to donate –  couriers will collect milk from a whole stack of cities around Australia – and it’s not just Queensland bubbas who benefit. Donor breast milk is sent to 11 neonatal hospital units right around the country to help nurture our tiniest babies.

However, the supply of donated breastmilk is starting to dry up and the Milk Bank needs more milk! Breastfeeding mums who want to help can email Queensland Milk Bank direct. 

Just one litre of breast milk can help 50 premature babies and boost the survival rate by almost 70 per cent. They don’t call breast milk liquid gold for nothing!

How can you help?

Strict safety precautions mean not everyone is eligible to donate. Some of the stipulations include the age of your baby (12 months and under), the condition of the milk (frozen only) and the date of expressing (three months or under).

The Queensland Milk Bank will work out your eligibility to donate your breast milk after discussing your current breastfeeding situation. So, if you would like to help feed a premmie baby, then please, get in touch.

Be sure to pass this message on to any breastfeeding or expressing mama you know who may be eligible. If you are currently breastfeeding, you may also be interested in this story about the unbelievable powers of breastmilk.