"It cost me nothing and took just a bit of my time. More importantly, I was saving a life, a little baby's life."
Helen P (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
"I express and freeze my milk for donation as there is no better feeling than knowing we are helping other moms and babies."
Andrea (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
"When Milk Matters told me that preemies needed just 50ml a day to survive and I was feeding my son breastmilk all day long, I wanted to help and knew I could."
Helen (breastmilk donor) - University Estate
"It felt wonderful to be able to help other moms and babies in the same way that I had been helped. It has been very special to be both a donor and recipient of breastmilk through the milk bank."
Debbie K. (donor and recipient)
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.
- Pretoria Pasteurisation
- Flash Pasteurisation
- 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
