The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank at the Hong Kong Children's Hospital has successfully recruited over 100 qualified donors and collected more than 300 liters of breast milk. Director of the Breast Milk Bank, Dr. Rosanna Wong Ming-sum, indicated that this month marks the launch of the second phase of service, distributing donated breast milk to the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of nine hospitals managed by the Hospital Authority. Premature infants—those born before 32 weeks of gestation and weighing less than 1.5 kilograms—as well as those suffering from severe illnesses, such as congenital heart disease or those who have undergone intestinal surgery, will be prioritized for receiving donated breast milk.
The Bank provides a precious gift to at-risk infants, thanks to a group of caring mothers who selflessly donate their milk. One such donor, Chan, shared her experience. Her son was born in April last year and was hospitalized for neonatal jaundice, which delayed her ability to breastfeed and resulted in a low milk supply. As a result, her son had to supplement with formula, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort and unsettled sleep. Nurses advised her to pump regularly to increase her milk supply, and after about three months, she successfully transitioned to exclusive breastfeeding.
Even though Chan has returned to working full-time and her own child is eating more solid foods, combined with three milk feeds a day, she still makes time to pump and reserve an extra bag to donate to other babies.
Dr. Wong emphasized that the Bank has strict regulations for donors. They must be currently breastfeeding, have infants under one year old, be in good health, and undergo a comprehensive assessment of their medical history before donation. Once accepted as donors, they must also have their blood tested every three months. Upon arrival at the Bank, milk from the same donor is grouped together, then repackaged into individually sealed bottles, treated using the pasteurization method, and undergoes microbiological testing and nutritional analysis. Throughout the entire process, strict temperature controls are maintained.
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