Association for Mother’s Milk Donation and MDA to begin operating first National Mother's Milk Bank in Israel for Premature and Sick Babies.
In April of 2018 the first national Mother's Milk Bank is set to open in Israel. The service will be established by Magen David Adom in collaboration with the Association for Mother’s Milk Donation. The organization will allow nursing women to donate excess mother's milk to babies whose mothers are not available or able to nurse. The Bank will be established in the MDA Jerusalem station, and the facility's operation will be funded mostly by MDA and partially by the Health Ministry.
Mother's milk offers many benefits, including providing antibodies that defend babies against diseases and enable immune development, a process of utmost importance among premature and sick babies. Baby food formulas and substitutes do not offer the same advantages.
Breast milk, similar to blood units, is a human secretion containing stem cells and white blood cells – an irreplaceable composition. Research conducted in the field by Dr. Sharon Bransburg Zabary has affirmed this unique benefit. Bransburg Zabary is a member of the establishing committee of the Association of Mother’s Milk Donation and was one of the activists who spearheaded this initiative to which MDA and relevant government offices enlisted.
According to medical statistics, only 30% of women nurse without using any substitutes or formula, and could act as potential donors to the Mother's Milk Bank. The average donation volume ranges from 100-200 cc per day during a time period ranging from 3-9 months post-partum. The expected demand for mother's milk is estimated to be hundreds of liters a month.
Milk for premature babies from a mother who gave birth between the 34th week, and through six weeks postpartum.
Milk from a mother who gave birth on her planned due date.
The donation process ensures milk quality. Women who nurse and are interested in donating should approach the Mother's Milk Bank and will be invited for a medical interview, as well as undergo a set of tests to ensure safety and quality of the milk. Women who are found to be healthy and eligible will pump excess milk using a personal pump authorized according to global standards. They may do so either at home or at a hospital. The milk will be kept in a special bag at a cold temperature until it is collected by MDA. The donor will state the volume of each donation as appears on the pump, her name, date, and whether or not anything unusual occurred during pumping. MDA will then coordinate a convenient time to collect the donation.