Urgent call in Greifswald: Breast milk needed for premature babies!

Urgent call in Greifswald: Breast milk needed for premature babies!

An important initiative is being launched in the Hanseatic city of Greifswald: The human milk bank at the Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine at the University Medical Center Greifswald is looking for urgently needed breast milk donors. Due to the sharp decline in supplies, the clinic now relies on your help after more than 70 years of operation. This breast milk is particularly important for premature babies and critically ill newborns who rely on the valuable nutrients that only breast milk can provide. “We urgently need support from breastfeeding mothers in the area,” were the calls from the children’s clinic.

What do interested mothers have to consider? The donors must meet a few requirements: their own child should not be older than six months, there must be an excess of breast milk of at least 200 milliliters per day, and they should be healthy and not taking any relevant medications. Before the first donation, an anamnesis, a health examination and a blood sample are required.

The importance of breast milk

The benefits of breast milk for the health of newborns, especially premature babies, have been proven by numerous studies. It turns out that breast milk is less likely to cause serious intestinal problems and infections and significantly improves the neurological development of premature babies. According to information from Medizin Tübingen, feeding with breast milk is of great importance for sick and premature babies. The World Health Organization and American and European nutrition experts recommend using donated breast milk if your own breast milk is not enough.

Particular attention is paid to the fact that many mothers of premature babies, who often struggle with delayed milk production after birth, are temporarily unable to provide enough breast milk. This is where the human milk bank comes in, to ensure that all of these little patients get the nutrients they need to thrive.

A call to mothers

The Greifswald University Medical Center points out that there is no transport service for breast milk donations, which is why interested mothers should make their way directly from Greifswald or the surrounding area. “A donation can make a big difference in a small life,” emphasizes the clinic.

Anyone interested in donating or needing more information can contact the Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine. A step that not only supports your own child, but also helps many others - because breast milk is more than just food; it is life insurance for the smallest among us.