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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!"

Milk Matters

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When would breastmilk need to be pasteurised?

Research indicates that pasteurising breastmilk destroys potentially harmful bacteria and viruses.

• It is therefore standard practice, all over the world, to pasteurise donor milk before giving it to recipient babies
• Mothers who are HIV positive should be given the option of pasteurising their breastmilk for their babies. It is immaterial whether their babies are premature or not

Three methods of Heat Treating / Pasteurisation Breastmilk are described below.

1. Pretoria Pasteurisation
2. Flash Pasteurisation
3. Holder Pasteurisation

Pretoria Pasteurisation

Research conducted by Jeffrey B.S et al, J Trop Paeds 2000

Equipment

• 1Lt Hart pot (milk warmer)
• 450gr Glass Peanutbutter jar
• Kettle or other utensil in which to boil water
• Clock / timer

Method

• Label glass jar with baby's name, the date and time
• Mother expresses 50 to 150ml into glass jar
• Close lid and place jar into 1Lt pot
• Pour boiling water - 450ml or 2cm below pot brim
• May need weight on top of jar
• Leave standing for ½ hr
• Remove milk, cool, administer to baby or store in fridge

Flash Pasteurisation

Research conducted by Israel-Ballard K. et al, JAIDS Oct 2005

Equipment

• 1Lt Hart or similar pot
• 450gr Peanut butter or similar glass jar
• Stove / fire (Needs reasonably intense heat)

Method

• Label glass jar with baby's name, the date and time
• Mother expresses 50 to 150ml into glass jar
• Cover jar
• Place jar into pot / pan
• Add (room temp) water into pot to 2cm above milk level (about 450ml)
• May need weight on top of jar
• Bring the water to rapid boil - remove milk immediately from both the water and heat source
• Cool milk, administer to baby or store in fridge

Table of Nutritional Comparison between Pretoria and Flash Methods (by Israel-Ballard K. et al, JAIDS Oct 2005 )

Holder Method

Equipment

• Locally manufactured Holder Pasteurization Unit available (Details available from Milk Matters)
• Glass jars of the same size with well sealing lids and similar amounts of milk in each jar.

Method

• Unit is filled with tap water to a specified level
• Unit is switched on and warms water to a minimum of 62.5°C
• Jars of milk are submerged in Pasteurization Unit basket
• Temperature of 62.5 °C is automatically maintained for 30 minutes
• The buzzer will sound and the basket with jars must be removed

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