Héma-Québec not only collects blood or plasma donations, but also breast milk donations for premature babies and, as at the beginning of the month, the organization is currently looking for donors.
Andrée-Anne Hudon Thibeault has 3 children. His youngest, Ludovic, is five and a half months old. She is one of the generous mothers who donate their breast milk for premature babies.
“Breastfeeding isn’t a sacrifice, it’s a little addition to the routine,” she explained. “I created a fake drink to tell my body: ‘We have to produce at this time'”
Every evening she produces about two 80ml bottles. “I’m approaching 16 liters of milk,” she continued.
She also invites mothers of babies under eight months to donate. “We know it’s not always easy for everyone. I felt privileged to have a healthy baby. For me it’s a small gesture compared to the benefit it brings. Of course I wanted to do it,” said the mother.
Héma-Québec collects around 100 milk donations each month in its public bank. Breast milk is used for very preterm babies, born before 32 weeks gestation, whose mother is unable to breastfeed.
“Breast milk is really used as a medicine. There are components that protect premature babies from intestinal diseases that can be fatal,” said Josée Larivée, spokeswoman for Héma-Québec.
- Listen to the interview with Nevena Koltchagova, mother of an 8-month-old baby, on Philippe-Vincent Foisy’s show QUB radio :
It’s quite a gymnastics for the body, which has to replenish its breast milk bank every month.
“We hope each month that we don’t have a lot of preterm babies, so we don’t have a large supply of breast milk. It’s a coincidence that sometimes hundreds of moms sign up at the beginning of the month. There are certain months when it’s more difficult to fill them up,” Ms Larivée said.
Mothers are usually generous. And when the monthly supplies are full, don’t be discouraged.
“If you have a one-month-old baby, Bank Héma-Québec might need you in a month or two. You just have to visit us on the Héma-Québec website, we’ll tell you if it’s full,” she said.
At the time of the report, 12 out of 115 mothers had registered to donate.
“When we carry the bags with the little milk pots, we are proud with a heavy heart,” said Andrée-Anne Hudon Thibeault, touched.
In Quebec, more than 4,000 liters of milk are needed each year to feed the needs of around 1,000 preterm babies.