Breastfeeding is a time of joys and challenges. A selfless act by a mother to her newborn baby to help provide them with essential nutrients and antibodies critical for their growth and development in the early stages of life. Breastmilk is the ideal food for all infants and is especially important for sick or premature babies.
However, some mothers are unable to breastfeed their babies (despite their best efforts).
In such cases, breastmilk donation can become a lifeline for vulnerable infants, offering them the same benefits of breastmilk that they might otherwise miss out on. Breastmilk increases the chances of survival of sick or premature infants and assists in their long-term development both physically and neurologically.
And that’s why HydroBump supports the Mother’s Milk Bank Charity – a selfless Australian registered organisation that collects, screens and redistributes breastmilk donated by one mother to another.
At HydroBump, we want to optimise a mothers hydration status in order to boost her milk supply and give her the option to donate milk if she wishes to do so.
Breastmilk Donations:
However, some mothers are unable to breastfeed their babies (despite their best efforts).
Breastmilk donation involves lactating mothers voluntarily providing their excess breastmilk to babies who are unable to receive it from their biological mothers for a variety of reasons, for example, prematurity in which the mothers lactating ability hadn’t yet fully developed. This act of generosity not only helps the vulnerable infant but fosters a sense of community among mothers.
But why breastmilk?
Breastmilk is ideal as it has the perfect balance of nutrition and bioactive factors for infants, containing carbohydrates, proteins, and fat essential for growth and development. Additionally, breastmilk is rick in antibodies and enzymes that aid in developing the infants immune system and protect against infections and disease.
Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease in which the tissue lining of babies’ intestinal tract becomes inflamed and can die. The rate of NEC worldwide is between 0.3-2.4 infants per 1000 live births with nearly 70% of these occurring in premature infants before 36 weeks’ gestation. Studies have shown that by using breastmilk as the main source of nutrition for these premature newborns, there is a reduction in the rate of life-threatening NEC. However, despite the critical lifesaving role of breastmilk donations, we often find that it is difficult for milk banks to attain a steady and adequate supply of breastmilk from lactating mothers.
What does Mothers Milk Bank Charity Do?
Mothers Milk Bank Charity is Australia’s only breastmilk donation organisation. Their vision is to provide families with the option of donor milk when needed and to see that all infants exclusively receive breastmilk from birth to six months of age.
Their values are to commit themselves to:
- Expanding access and prioritising the most vulnerable and in need of breastmilk
- Basing decision on evidence-based medicine and the latest research
- Promoting nutrition and breastfeeding in infants
- Protecting our most vulnerable infants through the highest standards of screening, processing, and pasteurizing donated breastmilk
- Ethically sourcing their donated breastmilk
- Raising awareness of how their processes work, how breastmilk improves the infants long term health and overall supporting breastfeeding
Why the collaboration?
- At HydroBump, we believe not only in encouraging breastfeeding your own baby, but (if possible), sharing your gift with other mothers who may not be able to breastfeed. The gift of saving a vulnerable infant is an act of selflessness and kindness. We want to break down the barriers to breastfeeding one issue at a time and empower women to support other women and their vulnerable newborns. By optimising your hydration whilst breastfeeding, you can impact the quantity of your breastmilk production and give yourself the opportunity to support a newborns fragile early life. Adequate hydration is essential for adequate milk production – and we’re here to help you do just that.
The Ultimate Goal:
Breastmilk donation offers a lifeline to infants in need. It provides them with the essential nutrients and immune support they require for a healthy long term development. Simultaneously, proper hydration of the breastmilk donors is vital for breastfeeding mothers to maintain adequate milk production and support their own well-being. By understanding the significance of breastmilk donation and prioritizing hydration during breastfeeding, we can ensure the health and thriving of both babies and mothers alike.
You can either donate financially directly to their website or donate your breastmilk.
This is our way of building our village to support our babies.
