“I am a registered midwife and nursing sister. I have worked at the neonatal unit at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa for the last 18 years.
My son Ashton was delivered by emergency caesarean section at Groote Schuur Hospital. I was only 6months and 4 days pregnancy. Both our lives were in danger and Ashton weighing 990 grams was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Knowing all the complications that could occur to my child was extremely stressful and emotional. This impacted on my ability to produce breast milk for my son.
I knew how important breast milk was and I knew giving formula was not even an option. Providing these babies with breast milk is the single most effective way of preventing life-threatening complications. Fortunately donor breastmilk was available so thankfully Ashton was given the start he deserved.
Ashton is now 5 years old and is a normal, typical boy of his age. Ashton is an example of the miracle of milk, love and prayers.
I will forever be indebted and thankful to all the mothers who donated breast milk to Ashton."
Lucile (Recipeint baby's mother & Neonatal ICU sister) - Cape Town
“My son was admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital neonatal ward in November 2009. He needed milk.
I was unable to give him breastmilk. He was born at 27 weeks with weight 985gr. Thank you very much to the donors who donated breast milk. It really saved my sons life.
Because of your organisation, most of all your donors, my son is healthy, his weight at the moment is 4.5kg - getting fatter by the day. May God bless you all and the work you do. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"
Edith Medell (mother of baby receiving donor breastmilk) Cape Town
"I am so happy to be a part of the Milk Matters project, after having surrogated twins a few months ago. I expressed milk for the twins after their birth, while I was in hospital, and continued donating to Milk Matters when I got home."
Natalie (breastmilk donor and surrogate mother) - Kraaifontein
"I firmly believe that the practice of Milk Banking is still in it's infancy, globally and especially in South Africa. I expect it will steadily increase in profile and will progressively gain support until it overshadows blood transfusion both in the public and medical eye.
Donating breast milk is an act that involves the least pain and the most gain, compared to any other human tissue or organ donation. It is potentially life-saving and is worth more than equipment or staff. Together with KMC, it is an intervention that most doctors themselves cannot give, but most mothers can - it completes medical care."
Dr Alan Horn - Neonatologist (Cape Town, South Africa)
