There are 6 new milk donor mothers enrolled by the Donated Human Milk Bank of the San Donato Hospital. A month ago the appeal launched by Dr Letizia Magi, director of the UOSD Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the San Donato Hospitalhad started a solidarity competition which led to the enrollment of 6 new mothers who began donating their milk.
«Donating milk is a great gesture of love and generosity – explains the Dr. Letizia Magi -. Mother’s milk can be lifesaving for some newborns and for this we want to thank all the mothers who contacted us.
Following the appeal launched last month on the shortage of human milk for premature babies, we witnessed a real mobilization on the part of all citizens.”
«Our message – continues the Dr. Magi – it spread through the media and various social channels, raising awareness in almost all the provinces of Tuscany and the Donated Human Milk Banks received many calls from mothers who made their milk available for premature babies. Thanks to the 6 new mothers enrolled in the Donated Human Milk Bank of the San Donato Hospital in the last month, we were able to collect almost 4 liters of human milk.”
In the last 6 months, almost 50 premature babies with a gestation age of less than 36 weeks have been born in the San Donato Hospital and most of them have been able to benefit from the milk donated by donor mothers.
«Donated milk is never enough – adds the Director of Neonatology – for this reason we want to continue to spread our awareness message and remember what characteristics are required to be able to donate. Every drop of donated milk is precious.”
It is possible to donate your milk within 6 months of giving birth and to do so you must contact the department on 0575-254531 and make an appointment with the neonatal nurses for a lifestyle questionnaire and blood sampling for infectious diseases. Once the mother has been enrolled as a donor, because her characteristics allow it, she will be given sterile bottles where she can store the expressed and frozen milk at home. Subsequently, the collected milk will be collected with a specifically dedicated service. Each donor is free from obligations or constraints on the quantities donated or the duration of the donation relationship.
«I want to thank all the operators in the department who take care of the Donated Human Milk Bank with love and dedication – concludes the Dr. Magi -. A special thank you also to the Peer Mothers of the Mamma’s Milk Association who have always supported the promotion of breastfeeding with their voluntary work.”
