More breast milk needed for provincial reserve, Hma-Qubec says

Quebec's breast-milk bank is looking for more new mothers to donate due to the popular demand for the service.

"We are asking for more mothers to join," said Laurent-PaulMnard, a spokesperson forHma-Qubec, which also runs the province's blood and tissue bank.

Hma-Qubec is expanding the number of woman eligible to give their surplus breast milkin the hope of being able to help more premature babies whose mothers can not provide milk of their own.

Up until now, only women who had given birth at certain participating hospitals, such as the Centre mre-enfantSoleilin Quebec City,were eligible to donate.

With the change in criteria, any woman who has had a child in the last 12 months and who lives in the greater Montreal or Quebec City areas can take part.

Milk for more babies

The milk is currently being given to premature babies, born at 30 weeks or less, butHma-Qubechopes to provide the service to those who were carried for up to 32 weeks.

• Breast milk shortage hits B.C. Women's Hospital milk bank

But right now, only 200 women are signed up to donate milk. And, because only those with a surplus can give, just100 women are actually providing milk for the bank.

Hma-Qubechopes the criteria change will more than double its number of registered donors, to 500.

A mother who is willing to give her surplus milk must first provide a blood sample and speak with a worker fromHma-Qubec.

"Hma-Qubec goes to the mother's house and makes it as easy as possible for the mothers who kindly accept to take part in that bank," Mnard said.

• Breast milk bank could be inHma-Qubec'sfuture

Hma-Qubecprovides donors with bottles, and the moms can send their surplus milk via courier.

Mnard said premature babies are more susceptible to illness, and that having access to breast milk can improvetheir health.

Around 30 per cent of mothersare unable to feed theirpremature babies with their own milk.