The Human Milk Bank in Ireland Seeks More Donors
The only human milk bank on the island of Ireland is making a heartfelt appeal for more mothers to donate their breast milk. This essential service, located at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, plays a critical role in supporting premature and sick babies in neonatal units across the country.
During the summer months, when many people are away on holiday, hospitals often face increased demand for donor milk. The Western Health Trust has highlighted that this period presents a challenge due to the constant need for new donors. With the high turnover of patients, the importance of having a reliable supply of breast milk becomes even more apparent.
Aoibh Comer, a mother from Forkill in County Armagh, donated her breast milk to the service in 2024. She expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to help other babies in need. “I was so grateful to my baby son Tádhg for giving me the chance to support other babies,” she said. Comer learned about the service through a Northern Ireland Breastfeeding community group on social media. From the start of her breastfeeding journey, she felt a strong desire to contribute. “I knew the human body could produce such goodness and I wanted to supply milk to the babies that needed it most,” she shared.
Comer emphasized the unique benefits of breast milk for premature babies. “There is no substitute that completely matches breastmilk, and the benefits that babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) get from this are so beneficial for their growth,” she explained. As a former healthcare worker, she strongly encourages other mothers to consider donating. “I would say to anyone in a position to donate, please, please do it,” she urged. “The team makes it so easy, they are very helpful and friendly. There is such a great feeling of achievement when you fill your last bottle of milk to donate.”
Human breast milk offers numerous advantages for premature and sick babies. It helps build their immune system, supports eye and brain development, and can prevent diseases that commonly affect premature or low birth weight infants. In particular, it can protect the gut from rupturing, a potentially life-threatening condition. The service also assists mothers of twins, triplets, and quadruplets who may struggle to produce enough milk for all their children.
Last year, the service provided over 1,000 litres of donor breast milk to units across 27 hospitals in Ireland. This helped 783 premature babies, including 223 who were part of multiple births. Susan Rogers, lead nurse for public health at the Western Trust, described the service as a "life or death" necessity. “The service means life or death really,” she said. “When you speak to anyone who has both donated and received breast milk, you can feel the emotion surrounding it.” For premature babies with immature guts and immune systems, breast milk is crucial. Without it, they may become even sicker, making it vital for families with preterm infants.
Sarah Haugh’s daughter Emily was born at 25 weeks and began receiving Sarah’s breast milk immediately. “I was soon expressing full feeds, and my freezer quickly filled up,” she shared. A feeding lead at the hospital suggested she donate, a process she found incredibly easy. Over seven months, Sarah was able to donate 58 litres of milk. “It has been a lovely experience and very rewarding,” she said.
The trust is urging interested mothers to reach out to the Human Milk Bank team through its website. By contributing, mothers can make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable babies and their families. Every donation has the potential to save lives and provide critical care to those in need.
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