Breastfeeding and milk donation

It has been scientifically proven that breast milk has numerous health benefits for newborns. In particular, breast milk promotes better cognitive development and visual acuity. It reduces the risk of digestive disorders and of developing enterocolitis (ulceration and/or necrosis of the digestive system, including the colon). Breast milk lowers the risk of obesity, allergies, and pulmonary or gastrointestinal infections. It also reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes, coeliac disease (gluten intolerance), Crohn’s disease (a chronic inflammatory bowel disease), and even certain cancers.

Breastfeeding also promotes the development of the mother–child bond, particularly through skin-to-skin contact. When breastfeeding is not possible, our teams will also support you in fostering the early establishment of the “Mother–Child” bond. Regardless of the reason for your child’s hospitalisation, your presence with your baby is essential for building the parent–child bond and improving the quality of their development.

Breastfeeding is also beneficial for the mother! It reduces the risk of anaemia (iron deficiency) and postpartum infection, while promoting weight loss. It may also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes, as well as the risk of certain cancers (ovarian and breast cancer). Finally, it reduces the risk of osteoporosis (excessive fragility of the skeleton) after menopause.

To promote and support continued breastfeeding for hospitalised babies, human milk banks have been established. There are four in Belgium, including the one at HUDERF, which was created in 1989. Its role is to manage and process breast milk from the mothers of hospitalised children, as well as donated human milk. It therefore enables mothers to continue breastfeeding during their hospital stay, with encouragement and support from the unit teams. The milk bank also accepts donations from breastfeeding mothers outside the hospital.

The milk bank works with all the hospital’s inpatient wards, particularly the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the infants’ unit (ward 68).

A mother whose child is or has been hospitalised can express milk and donate it to other hospitalised children. External donations are also possible. Donated milk is primarily intended for hospitalised premature infants, but may be given to other patients on medical request, with the consent of the parents of the hospitalised infant.

The milk’s “journey” will vary depending on its intended recipient and several criteria established in accordance with the recommendations of the Superior Health Council: the type of milk (colostrum, breast milk or milk intended for donation), where the milk was expressed, the mother’s CMV status, and the child’s age and weight. In some cases, the milk may be given or frozen as is, whereas in others, a bacteriological analysis will be essential and will determine whether the milk can be given raw, pasteurised or must be discarded.

It is important to know that, to become a donor, you must be in generally good health, not smoke, and have milk expressed before the child reaches 6 months of age. In practical terms, you must first attend a specific medical consultation and have a blood test. Based on these results, the donation will either be accepted or declined. The mother can then express her milk while following strict hygiene measures.

Consult the brochure online. Would you like to continue breastfeeding your hospitalised child? Our teams are here to support you; please do not hesitate to ask them for help.