By Jill Sperling

Kamloops hoping to help milk bank with short supply

Jan 17, 2017 | 9:31 AM

KAMLOOPS — The BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank is struggling to keep donor milk on the shelves. The bank is down to about 4,000 ounces of human milk, but requires around 30,000 ounces a week to supply sick or premature babies with the important nutrients found in breast milk. 

The community organization Breastfeeding Matters in Kamloops has already hosted two milk drives to help out the provincial bank. The most recent was in December, when the milk bank was down to its last 500 ml. 

A third milk drive is scheduled for March 9 at Lizzie Bits Baby Co., on Victoria Street. 

“We always want moms to feed their own baby first,” said Interior Health public health nurse Joanne Juras, “and then if they have time and availability and meet the screening requirements that the milk bank has, then certainly she can start saving already, and even if she can’t meet the drive in March, we’re hoping to host another one in three or four months time after that.” 

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When a mother cannot provide her own milk, donated milk can be a life-saver, warding off sicknesses in babies at a time when they are most vulnerable.

“One thing that is really important about breast milk is it contains antibodies which help fight infection and disease,” said public health dietitian, Simone Jennings, “so this is why donated human milk is very important, especially for sick or hospitalized babies because we know it helps reduce the risk of complications.”

For more information on how to donate mothers can contact Breastfeeding Matters in Kamloops on Facebook or on their website.