Darent Valley Hospital opens milk bank

The recently opened Kent Donor Milk Hub, based at Darent Valley Hospital, will help provide safe and screened donor human milk to sick and premature babies in hospital neonatal intensive care and special care units, and families at home.

Caroline Jordan, infant feeding specialist midwife at Darent Valley Hospital, says: "These at-risk babies will receive donor breast milk while their mums are being supported with establishing their milk supply. Breast milk has many unique components that protect these babies from the complications of being born early, including reducing the risk of bowel problems (necrotising enterocolitis), eye problems (retinopathy of prematurity), protection against infection and promoting brain growth and development.”

The unit is a partnership between the hospital, The Alexa Trust, The Human Milk Foundation and the Hearts Milk Bank. The breast milk is donated by lactating women; prospective donors go through a screening process before donating their milk to ensure it is safe for consumption. Volunteers from the ‘blood-bike blood runners’ charity SERV (Service by Emergency Response Volunteers) pick up the milk and distribute it to other hospitals throughout Kent, saving vital time in getting the milk to those that need it.

For further information visit: https://heartsmilkbank.org/