Sick and premature babies from across the country are able to thrive thanks to donations from generous mothers who donate their breastmilk.
The Human Milk bank located within the Western Trust first opened in 2000 and since then has gone on to help thousands of neonatal babies all over Ireland.
In 2021, the Milk Bank processed a total donation of 2,142 litres of donor expressed milk and provided approximately 1,427 litres of breast milk to 27 neonatal units in hospitals across Ireland, helping 844 babies, including 100 sets of twins and 11 sets of triplets.
Read more: NI mum describes 'up and down' journey after twins born prematurely
As part of World Breastfeeding Awareness week, two mums have opened up about their decision to donate breast milk, saying they wanted to 'give back' after their own babies were given the gift of donor milk in the early days of their lives.
Fermanagh mum Alana Meikle was grateful for the milk that two of her children received when they were both born prematurely.
She explained: "Our baby Joy came a little earlier than we planned and she was admitted to the Neonatal Unit at South West Acute Hospital [Enniskillen], for some help.
"She needed oxygen and we are so thankful to all the mothers out there who donated milk because it took me a while to establish my own supply and she was fed donor milk through her tube to give her the best fighting chance when she was born.
"In the days since she was born I have started to pump and I have just signed up today to become a donor and I just wanted to say thank you, on behalf of Grace my older daughter who also had donor milk three years ago and on behalf of Joy at four days old who has had four days of donor milk, so thank you and please keep going."
Claire McCracken also knows the huge benefit that comes from donations to the milk bank, her son Harry was born via emergency c-section and also needed donor milk in the early days.
She explained: "Harry was born via emergency c-section at Antrim Area Hospital however he was very quickly transferred to Neonatal as he wasn't responding. We later found out that Harry had a collapsed lung and the very first time my husband and I saw him he was connected up to a CPAT machine, IV Antibiotics and also an NG tube.
"I thought this was the end of my wish to breastfeed Harry however the wonderful nurses in the unit explained the donor milk process to us. In the early days Harry received donor milk on top of what I was able to express for him, but it wasn't long until I was able to feed Harry myself.
"14 weeks down the line we are still exclusively breastfed. When I heard about the shortage the Trust had I wanted to give back. We are currently a litre and a half into our first donation pack and I am still able to feed Harry alongside that. We received an abundance of advice from health professionals and family alike. Donor milk has so many advantages for sick and premature babies and I really encourage you to donate if you are able."
To find out more and how to donate visit the website.
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