Momentum grows for breast milk bank in Canberra
More than 1800 Canberrans have signed a petition started by a couple who want to see a breast milk bank established in the ACT
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Tamsin and Robert Gascoigne were thrilled to welcome their second child Miles early this month.
But due to being diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma 35 weeks into her pregnancy, Mrs Gascoigne is unable to breast feed as she undergoes intensive chemotherapy.
“I felt devastated by this development,” Mrs Gascoigne said.
“There’s a consensus in the medical literature that breast milk is best for babies, not only because it provides the baby with protection against infections, but also reduces the risk of allergies, asthma, SIDS and obesity and it is easier to digest than formula.
“There is also some evidence that breastmilk provides the baby with diverse gut bacteria that sets up their overall health.”
In the absence of a breast milk bank in the ACT, the couple turned to Facebook where they connected with mothers including Preethi Arvinda who generously diverted 6.5 litres of breast milk from her own baby to help two complete strangers.
Another mum drops by their Downer house every Wednesday to deliver frozen breastmilk to them and even offered to collect milk from other mothers around Canberra.
“The experience has been amazing for us, as it has demonstrated the extraordinary generosity in the Canberra community, particularly among mothers,” Mrs Gascoigne said.
“Although this experience has been positive for us, I do think that there would be much to be gained by formalising milk sharing through a milk bank.
“The current private arrangements rely on honesty and transparency from both donors and recipients, and the lack of anonymity or screening may discourage some donors or recipients from participating.”
While the couple haven’t encountered a problem with this, there is the possibility of certain illnesses being shared through unscreened breast milk.
“Equally, it is quite brave of donating women to have unknown persons come to their house to collect milk.”
More than 1800 people have signed the couple’s petition calling for the establishment of a breast milk bank in the ACT.
“Interestingly, a recurring comment we’ve heard from our petition is that women don’t know what to do with their excess breastmilk,” Mrs Gascoigne said.
“Canberra mums are very willing to help.”
The couple point out it wouldn’t just be people in their situation who would benefit.
A wide range of potential recipients include premature babies, adoptive and foster families, LGBTIQ couples, those who have used a surrogate birth mother or mums with medical issues preventing them from breast feeding.
Mrs Arvind said she started donating in 2016 when she and husband Arvind Ramana had their first son Aditya and she had excess supply.
Since then she has donated more than 200 litres to 17 babies including premature twins.
“The Canberra mum community has a lot of donors and while there are also many families looking for milk, it is a bit of an uphill climb to reach out, identify, connect and arrange the logistics with recipients who are in need of support,” Mrs Arvind said.
“In addition to that the process of expressing and storing the milk safely requires a lot of effort.
“The presence of a centralised milk bank would regularise a lot of this by connecting the donor and recipient community with the facility support that comes with a milk bank.
“It goes without saying that it would also benefit premature and sick bubs at TCH which currently has to source the milk from milk banks based in NSW.”
Mrs Arvind gave birth to her second son Arjun in April and has been gifted with a good supply this time round as well.
An ACT Health Directorate spokeswoman said in January the former health minister Meegan Fitzharris requested the Directorate to co-ordinate a working group, consisting of executive and clinical leaders from ACT Health and Canberra Health Services, to investigate the feasibility of establishing a human Milk Bank in the ACT.
“This feasibility study is currently underway,” she said.
“Work is focused on gathering community insights through identified stakeholders and determining potential costs and practical considerations of establishing a Milk Bank in the ACT.”
The outcomes of the study are expected to be presented to the Legislative Assembly before the end of the year.
Alongside this study, the ACT Government has participated in a national working group established by the Clinical Principal Committee.
“This working group was established to investigate regulatory practices regarding human milk and human milk products across different jurisdictions,” she said.
“Findings from this working group will further inform the feasibility of establishing a Milk Bank in the ACT.”
Donor milk is currently supplied to the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children for the neonatal intensive care unit for babies born premature or unwell or where there is not enough expressed milk when feeds are introduced.
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