More breast milk needed for provincial reserve, Héma-Québec 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-Paul Ménard, a spokesperson for Héma-Québec, which also runs the province's blood and tissue bank.

Héma-Québec is expanding the number of woman eligible to give their surplus breast milk in 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 mère-enfant Soleil in 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, but Héma-Québec hopes to provide the service to those who were carried for up to 32 weeks.

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But right now, only 200 women are signed up to donate milk. And, because only those with a surplus can give, just 100 women are actually providing milk for the bank.

Héma-Québec hopes 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 from Héma-Québec.​

"Héma-Québec 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," Ménard said.

• Breast milk bank could be in Héma-Québec's future

Héma-Québec provides donors with bottles, and the moms can send their surplus milk via courier.

Ménard said premature babies are more susceptible to illness, and that having access to breast milk can improve their health.

Around 30 per cent of mothers are unable to feed their premature babies with their own milk.