Home HEALTH Mothers to be told they can harvest breast milk and store it in NHS hospital for first time – The Telegraph

Mothers to be told they can harvest breast milk and store it in NHS hospital for first time – The Telegraph

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Mothers to be told they can harvest breast milk and store it in NHS hospital for first time – The Bioreports

Expectant mothers are being given breast milk harvesting packs and encouraged to store their milk in NHS hospital freezers for the first time. 

The packs, which include a syringe to store the extracted colostrum – the first breast milk produced during pregnancy – are being provided by East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust.

A new freezer has been purchased for the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford by the East Kent Hospitals Charity, and one is already in place at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, so mothers can bring in their harvested milk and store it. 

Breast milk can be kept frozen for up to six months, so pregnant women are being encouraged to collect and freeze their milk and then bring it with them when they go into labour.

Colostrum is easy for newborns to digest and is extremely high in nutritional value. It can be particularly beneficial for babies who have challenges with breastfeeding, or maintaining blood sugar levels.   The UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding and it’s estimated that only 34 percent of babies are receiving some breast milk at six months, according to the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health. 

Women whose babies are expected to be particularly small, or with health problems such as a cleft lip or palate, or a heart condition are particularly encouraged to collect colostrum.

Mothers who are diabetic, have had breast surgery, are on medication for high blood pressure, or who are planning to give birth by caesarean could also find their babies benefit for their first breast milk.

Mothers can start collecting colostrum, which can be expressed by hand and collected in a sterile syringe, from around 36 weeks.

Kate Lynch, one of the infant feeding co-ordinators at the Trust, said: “Colostrum is the perfect first feed for babies because it is so nutritionally rich.

 “It is packed with proteins, vitamins, and minerals and helps prevent dehydration and boost babies’ immune systems.

“By harvesting colostrum before birth, mums can make sure their babies can receive this vital first food if they have any difficulties breastfeeding in the early days.”

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