Norfolk County Council and Human Milk Foundation promote breastfeeding campaign

A new programme has been launched to promote breastfeeding and expand milk banking services across the county.

Norfolk County Council and the Human Milk Foundation have teamed up in an attempt to support up to 120 families in the coming year.

International board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) will work closely with families, providing antenatal information and postnatal support to help parents to breastfeed, with access to donor milk if needed.

Norfolk is the first county to pilot such a programme, as part of its Start for Life offer.

Cllr Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The work that the Human Milk Foundation does to help empower and support families on their breastfeeding journey is highly admirable.

“We are excited to work together to ensure that babies and families who would benefit from donor milk is able to access it.

“As we celebrate national breastfeeding week (August 1-7), I encourage new parents to access the ‘Start for Life’ offer, which provides support to parents and carers from a child's conception until their second birthday.”

Natalie Shenker, co-founder of the Human Milk Foundation, said: “Everyone at the HMF is committed to building a truly equitable service, where families can donate and access donor human milk, free at the point of need, wherever they live.

“By investing in expanding our milk banking services in Norfolk and the research evaluation of its impact, Norfolk County Council are enabling the start of a truly exciting innovation in perinatal health for families across Norfolk and beyond.”

In 2019, the foundation opened a dedicated donor milk hub at Hellesdon Hospital in partnership with Norfolk Blood Bikes.

Donor milk is donated by mothers with breast milk which is surplus to their own baby’s needs.

Since the hub was opened, more than 100 milk donors have been recruited from Norfolk, donating more than 1,400 litres of donor milk to help other families in need.

Norfolk Blood Bikes provides transport of donor milk to hospitals and families in the region. The foundation provides it to babies in Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as well as the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and the James Paget Hospital.

Agnieszka, a milk donor from Norwich, recently donated seven litres of milk to the Hearts Milk Bank.

Agnieszka said: “I decided to become a milk donor because I had a lot of breast milk available, and I wanted to make difference.

“When I found out I can donate milk to help other babies and mothers in need I felt like I'm doing my part in helping. It was the easiest decision I've ever made to donate my milk knowing how much difference it will make.

“I came across Heart Milk Bank, and it was very easy and straightforward to become a donor. It was quick and easy to fill in the questionnaire and do my blood test and before I knew, I had a lovely volunteer at my doorstep to pick up my breast milk.”

All donors undergo screening blood tests, and all donor milk is pasteurised at the Hearts Milk Bank headquarters in Hertfordshire, tested by microbiology and then transported to the milk hub in Norwich where it is stored in specialist freezers.

Parents and carers looking for more information and support on infant feeding can contact the county council.