B.C. breast milk supply low for second time in eight months

The breast milk bank reserves at B.C. Women’s Hospital are running low again.

The Provincial Milk Bank provides life-saving donations to infants, many of whom are premature.

Last year, the bank supplied approximately 130,000 ounces to feed nearly 4,500 children.

Now, there’s only a few weeks of supply left, according to coordinator Frances Jones, and demand is “very high.”

2:13 Provincial milk bank running low on supplies

Breast milk is critical for premature babies due to their underdeveloped digestive systems.

“A particular disease called necrotizing enterocolitis — it’s a disease of the bowel. So, premature infants have immature guts, which poses higher risk, and if they’re not on human milk, it increases the risk significantly,” Jones added.

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“Providing human milk, ideally mother’s own, is best. But understandably, that’s not always possible. So, pasteurized donor milk is the next best thing to protect the human gut.”

The provincial bank supplies 19 hospitals across B.C., including all 14 neonatal intensive care units.

There are currently 330 donors, but Jones said that needs to double to keep up with requests.

Anyone interested in donating can find more information on the B.C. Women’s Hospital website.