Latest news with #breastmilk
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Breast milk: Donating an opportunity to 'care for other babies'
The only human milk bank on the island of Ireland is appealing for more mothers to donate their breast service at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh supports premature and sick babies in neonatal units throughout Western Health Trust said hospitals were continuing to experience a high demand over the summer months when people are away on holiday and there is a constant turnover of donors. Aoibh Comer donated her breastmilk to the service in 2024 and said she was "so grateful" to her baby son Tádhg for "giving her the opportunity to help care for other babies that need it". 'Please, please do it' Ms Comer told BBC News NI she "just knew she had to do it".She heard about the service from a Northern Ireland Breastfeeding community group on social media. "I was keen on donating milk from the start of my breastfeeding journey, knowing the human body could produce such goodness and I could supply milk to the wee babies that need it most," the 25-year-old said."There is no substitute that completely matches breastmilk and the benefits babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ward get from this is so beneficial for their wee growth."The former health care worker from Forkill in County Armagh is urging other mothers to donate."I would say to anyone in a position to donate, please please do it," she said,"The team make it so easy, they are so helpful and a friendly."There is such a great feeling of achievement when you fill your last bottle of milk to donate and I'm so grateful to my baby boy for giving us the opportunity." Human breast milk supports premature and sick babies as it helps build their immune system and their eye and brain can also prevent against diseases which can affect premature or low birth weight particular, it can help to protect the gut from rupturing - a potentially life-threatening service also supports mothers of twins, triplets and quadruplets who are unable to produce enough milk of their year, the service provided more than 1,000 litres of donor breast milk to units across 27 hospitals throughout Ireland, helping 783 premature babies, of which 223 were either a twin or a triplet. 'Life or death' service Susan Rogers, lead nurse for public health at the Western Trust, said the bank was indebted to the donor mothers who had provided breast milk to thousands of babies since the project launched in told BBC News NI "the service means life or death really"."When you speak to anyone that has both donated and received breast milk, in the first few seconds you can get a sense of the emotion surrounding it," she said."The reality is for very small premature babies breast milk supports so much of their journey. "They have an immature gut and immune system and breast milk supports all of that."Often without breast milk they can become even sicker so for people that have premature babies it means everything to them." 'Lovely experience' Sarah Haugh's daughter Emily was born at 25 weeks and started on Sarah's breast milk straight away. "I was soon expressing full feeds and my freezer quickly filled up," she told BBC News feeding lead at the hospital suggested that she donated, a process she said was "incredibly easy".Sarah was able to donate 58 litres over seven months."It has been a lovely experience and very rewarding," she trust is appealing for interested mothers to get in touch with the Human Milk Bank team through its website.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Hundreds of babies to benefit from Northland's first milk bank
The bank's first donor, Whangārei mum Ashlee Robinson, with Whangārei Rotary Club South past president Jenni Moore, who led the fundraising campaign for the almost $33,000 pasteuriser. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Northland's first human milk bank is expected to benefit hundreds of premature and unwell babies every year. Whangārei mum Ashlee Robinson was the first person to donate milk when the new service opened at the city's Te Kotuku maternity unit on Friday afternoon. She said her own baby spent a month in the hospital's neo-natal unit, so she knew how much the milk bank was needed. "I saw my milk sitting there in excess, and all these other babies that could be benefiting from it but at the time couldn't - and now they can," she said. "It makes me quite emotional because I would have accepted milk when my baby was in there and needed it... those babies are quite vulnerable, and I'd do anything to help them." The bank's first donor, Whangārei mum Ashlee Robinson, watches as her milk is stored in the milk bank freezer until needed. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Northland director of midwifery Sue Bree likened breast milk to "liquid gold". "It is love turned into food. Of course, there are many, many nutritional benefits as well. Premature babies have specific needs in terms of immunity and the antibodies that are in breast milk," she said. Bree said women who wished to donate milk would be able to drop it off at a collection point in central Whangārei. It would then be pasteurised and frozen until needed. Bree compared the milk bank project to a pregnancy, albeit one with a more than two-year gestation period. It had been made possible by "incredible generosity" from the community, which had raised the almost $33,000 needed to buy the pasteuriser. "It's a pragmatic manifestation of the saying, 'It takes a village to raise a child'," Bree said. A premature baby in Whangārei Hospital's Te Kotuku neonatal unit. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Bree said Northland had high rates of breastfeeding but donated milk was needed for sick and pre-term babies. "Sometimes they don't have access to breast milk, either because it's early days and the mother is unable to produce it, or there are other, long-term issues. So, we recognised this was going to be a really beneficial thing for our sick and vulnerable pēpi (babies)." Small, premature babies would be prioritised, but donated milk could also be given to babies in the maternity ward with low blood sugar levels. In the past, premature babies had mainly been given formula, made from cow's milk, which was essential but not ideal. She expected hundreds of babies a year would benefit. Midwife Louise Rowden said a mother's breast milk was the perfect food. "But if the mother can't get her own breast milk, then the next best thing is another mother's breast milk," she said. Lactation consultant Janine Parsons said breast milk also brought long-term health benefits, including reduced rates of diabetes, cardio-vascular problems, obesity and allergies in later life. She said pasteurisation eliminated bacteria and viruses but preserved "the vast majority" of antibodies and vitamins. Donors would also complete a health questionnaire and a blood test, to check for diseases that could be transmitted through breast milk. The milk would be tested after pasteurisation to ensure it was safe. Public fundraising for the pasteuriser was led by Whangārei Rotary Club South, with contributions from Hāpai Te Hauora, Whangārei Lions, Whangārei City Rotary, Northland Community Foundation. Much of the money came from an auction of artworks bequeathed by the late Kerikeri artist Valerie Hunton, who had a lifelong commitment to women's health across the Pacific. Whangārei mum Ashlee Robinson, the first donor, cuts the ribbon to open Northland's first human milk bank. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Whangārei's new milk bank was used within an hour of opening for a pre-term baby who had spent a week in the neonatal unit. Mum Emma, from Whangārei, said she wanted to give her baby breast milk from the beginning, but had to use formula instead. She said it was "really exciting" to be the first person in Northland to use the service. "It's so good to have this option now. And baby's great. We've just got the go-ahead to go home," she said. He Piropiro Waiū Human Milk Bank is the fifth public milk bank in the motu, after Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson and Blenheim. There are also private milk banks in Christchurch and Palmerston North. Health New Zealand is working on a system to transport donated breast milk to other parts of Northland.
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Bay Area nonprofit needs breast milk donations as hospitals see increased demand
Mothers' Milk Bank California said they have been seeing a 30% increase in demand for breast milk donations from hospitals statewide and are calling on the community to help donate to families in need. The nonprofit organization is headquartered in San Jose and has about 1,200 donors in their system. "We're really reaching out to our community hoping for their support," Cynthia Ptacek, the donor services team lead at Mothers' Milk Bank California, told CBS News Bay Area. Since California Bill AB 3059, also known as the Human Milk Bill, passed a few months ago, the milk bank has seen greater demand from hospitals, especially in the Bay Area. "It has made it easier for hospitals to use milk they no longer are required to have a tissue bank license. And also, commercial insurance companies are now covering this lifesaving nutrition," Ptacek said. She adds that they have been busier than ever trying to meet this demand. "It's important to us that we are here supporting our moms, supporting our donors, and most of all, supporting the babies," Ptacek said. Mothers are thoroughly screened before they are able to donate their breast milk to the milk bank. Once they ship their frozen milk to the bank, staff then thaw the milk before they homogenize it. After pasteurization, the milk is frozen before being tested at a county laboratory for bacteria. "Because a sample is sent out to the county, we're required to wait until we get confirmation that it's safe and then we're able to ship it out to our hospitals," Ptacek said Mothers' Milk Bank ships out about 7,000 ounces of milk daily to about 60% of hospitals in California. "We also do serve some outpatients, sometimes babies are fostered, they've been adopted or their moms their milk hasn't come in yet," she said. "So, we act as a little bit of bridge milk for them." Tessa Elkins, who lives in San Jose, shared that she has donated about 3,000 ounces of milk. "After doing some research and knowing that there's such a high demand for breast milk in the NICUs and hospitals and families in need who aren't able to produce breast milk for their babies, so I wanted to be able to do that," Elkins told CBS News Bay Area. Staff at the milk bank said that donations from new mothers like Elkins do make a difference. "Every drop matters, so just keep that in mind, even if it's just two ounces at a time, all of that milk can save a baby's life," Elkins said. And with the teamwork of compassionate Bay Area mothers, the mission is personal. "I personally pumped for my son when he was in the hospital, and so I know how stressful it can be when your baby needs extra care. And I wanted to also give back," Ptacek said. She hopes that more families can help during this time of need. "Breast milk isn't just milk, it's medicine," she said.
The Review Geek
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Poker Face – Season 2 Episode 10 'The Big Pump' Recap & Review
Episode 10 The Murder Episode 10 of Poker Face Season 2 begins in a gym run by a man named Brick, who claims the place is all-natural and environmentally sustainable. He's approached by one of his members, Rodney, who wants to get ripped quickly. His high school reunion is coming up and he wants to impress. He's also seen the other members talk about the 'good stuff' they get from Brick and wants in on it, even if it's drugs. Brick agrees and goes inside his office, where we see bills scattered on his desk. He tells his wife Lily that he needs more of the 'good stuff' which turns out to be breast milk! His wife works at a birth centre and steals breast milk from there for a few select gym members. Turns out, Brick really needs the money. However, when Lily realises it's for Rodney, she reminds Brick that Rodney is a health inspector. So, Brick gives Rodney a bag of whey instead. But two weeks later, Rodney hasn't seen much improvement. He sees another gym member break the record and, when no one's looking, takes a sniff of his bottle. That evening, he confronts Brick about selling breast milk which is teeming with bacteria and stealing from mothers and babies. He tells Brick he's going to turn him in. Brick grabs the bottle from him and drains the liquid, leading to a fight between them. Brick throws a metal disc at him, which hits Rodney right in the throat. Knowing he will ruin his life, Brick lets Rodney pass out and then makes it look like he was doing a bench press. He then drops a heavy weight right on Rodney's neck, so his death seems like a bench press accident. Brick then waits till some other members find Rodney's body. The Investigation Charlie wakes up, still in Good Buddy's NYC apartment from the previous episode. She stretches and immediately cricks her neck. She heads to a café and bumps into Alex, the woman who gave her a free drink in the previous episode. They get to talking and when Charlie sees a flyer of Brick's gym, they go together. Brick fixes Charlie's neck in a second and then convinces the two women to take up his free 7-day trial. They get the gym's fitness tracking watches, which also let them become each other's friends on the app. Rodney sees Alex trying to bench press and warns her to always use a spotter. He chats with her and Charlie for a bit and leaves them when he spots one of the other gym members' drink bottles. Charlie leaves with a workout high and decides to go back the next day. But when she and Alex arrive, the police are all over the place. Alex thinks there's something suspicious about his death but Charlie, for once, wants to leave it alone. Alex asks about working out together anyway but Charlie says she's a lone wolf and would rather spend time on her own. When the gym reopens, Brick tells his wife that the milk is almost over but with the police around, she refuses to get more. Not wanting to lose his clientele, Brick starts giving them bottles with infant formula instead. At the gym, Charlie turns up to work out with Alex anyway. They spot one of the gym members, Kevin, complaining to Brick about the milk (although they don't know what he's talking about). Charlie tells Alex about her lie detection skills. Next time Brick goes by, Alex talks to him and Charlie realises he is lying about something. They snoop around and find the baby formula but don't think much of it since Brick's wife works at the birth centre. They're soon interrupted by Brick and scurry off but later on, Alex reveals she swiped Brick's key card and wants to snoop around at night. But Charlie knows how dangerous this can get and refuses to do so. When she's at the nearby café, she sees some of the gym members complaining of headaches and upset stomachs. She also sees a baby nearby and recognises that Kevin had the same smell as the baby when she had passed by him — the smell of breast milk! Charlie goes back and chats with Brick, learning from the conversation that he was lying about not being there at the gym the night Rodney died. She then taps her watch to Brick's, making them fitness friends. She hides in the sauna and goes through Brick's workout history, ultimately finding the leader board that shows Brick broke a new record at the time Rodney died. In her a-ha moment, she taps on it and 'hearts' the record. Brick gets the notification and realises she's on to him. He locks her inside the sauna, turns the heat up, and then rushes the other members out of the gym by claiming a gas leak. Charlie begins to do various exercises, which sends notifications to her fitness friend Alex. Alex sees the exercises and realises they spell out HALP. She figures it out and gets into the gym using Brick's card, managing to save Charlie just in time. But Brick catches them leaving and starts attacking them. He's going to deal a final blow when Lily shows up and he breaks down in tears. She tells the two women to call the police while she holds on to her wailing husband. Afterwards, Alex and Charlie go out for a bite and Charlie muses about how Alex hasn't told a single lie the whole time they spent together. Alex claims that she never lies, which is why she doesn't have friends, as most people can't handle the truth. Charlie then proclaims to be her friend. The Episode Review Episode 10 is another solid Poker Face episode. Interestingly, at first, you can't quite tell which of the two men is going to be murdered. It can swing either way and that unpredictability is nice! The rest of the episode has a couple of nice twists too, like the 'good stuff' being breast milk and Rodney being a health inspector. Like the other Poker Face episodes, the details really come into play here such as the fitness tracking watches and even Brick's tendency to not listen to what Rodney's actually saying. One minor gripe is that the end is wrapped up a bit too quickly, with Brick's wife turning on him way too fast. But aside from that, it's a tightly written, engaging episode. Even more so because Charlie is, for once, in the same place she was in the previous episode! It's an intriguing new phase for Charlie to be in the same area and in this one she's even gone and made a new friend. While the murder and investigation was pretty fun, the real question is what's going to Charlie do next? Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dr. Talbot's MilkFresh Named 'Breast Milk Storage Product of the Year' In 2025 Baby Innovation Awards Program
Annual Awards Program Recognizes Innovative Companies, Services and Products Within the Baby Care Industry LOS ANGELES, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2025 Baby Innovation Awards, an independent recognition platform highlighting the most innovative companies, services, and products in the highly competitive baby care industry, today announced that Dr. Talbot's, a leading brand of natural medicines and healthcare products and their solution MilkFresh, a first-of-its-kind app designed to ensure the freshness of breast milk with the help of an innovative sensor, is the recipient of 'Breast Milk Storage Product of the Year' in their 5th annual awards program. MilkFresh from Dr Talbot's Mom is an app designed to give parents confidence in milk freshness with real-time temperature tracking - at home or on the go. MilkFresh sensors intelligently monitor temperature changes and storage time in accordance with CDC guidelines, accurately measuring the impact on freshness and the remaining shelf life of the milk. Designed for on-the-go moms, MilkFresh ensures that each stored bag of breastmilk is fresh and safe when needed. The user-friendly technology easily fits into daily routines, enhancing the breast pumping experience, especially when transporting milk anywhere outside of the home. MilkFresh also offers a stock rotation system where each bag of milk is automatically logged and stored in date order to easily identify which bag to use first. In addition, milk that is high in melatonin or cortisol hormones is identified by a moon or sun icon, helping parents to select the milk they require to help establish sleep routines for their babies. Along with adhering to CDC guidelines, MilkFresh sensors have also been crafted to meet the rigorous standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and have been independently tested and approved. 'As storage temperature rises, the shelf life of milk diminishes. Before we launched MilkFresh, mothers had no way of tracking the impact of temperature changes on their stored breastmilk. The MilkFresh app lets you know if the milk is still fresh and the date it's due to expire, giving peace of mind to new parents that each feed is still safe for baby,'said Helen Curran, CMO at Dr. Talbot's 'We're pleased to accept the 'Breast Milk Storage Product of the Year' award from Baby Innovation as we believe this is a world-leading innovation that is changing the way moms store their milk, enabling them to pump and store on-the-go and give an instant read on shelf-life and freshness.' As consumers become more discerning and demanding, parents are looking to balance the health and development of their infants with their busy lifestyles. Emerging trends such as organic and natural products, personalized baby care, innovation in baby food, E-commerce and Direct-to-Consumer options are just some of the trends emerging in this rapidly expanding market. Companies are responding to these evolving demands by developing new products and the Baby Care market is projected to reach over 19 billion by 2030. The Baby Innovation Awards dives deep through a large set of categories within this increasingly competitive market, helping innovative products and companies stand out in this crowded market. 'Busy working moms can now confidently know exactly how fresh their stored breastmilk is without having to guess - even after long days and commutes. Determining the freshness of breastmilk can be a challenge, especially when it has been exposed to temperatures outside the recommended storage conditions for a fridge or freezer,' said Travis Grant, Managing Director of Baby Innovation Awards. 'This innovation from Dr. Talbot's Mom marks a significant breakthrough in breastmilk storage management, providing peace of mind for on-the-go moms. With real-time monitoring of breastmilk freshness, parents can avoid waste and ensure the health and safety of their littlest ones!' The focus of the Independent Innovation Awards is on recognizing the leaders in the most competitive categories of the Baby Care market, ranging from Bath & Diapers, Health Products, Nursing & Feeding, Clothes, Toys & Learning, Car Seats, Strollers and Nursery. This year's program attracted thousands of nominations from around the world. Recently, Dr. Talbot's Mom MilkFresh has been launched in over 3,000 Walmart and all Target stores within the US. It is now also available in all Meijer stores and available from and About Baby Innovation AwardsPart of Independent Innovation Awards organization, a global market intelligence and recognition program within the most competitive consumer categories, The Baby Innovation Awards honors the most outstanding and innovative companies, services, and products within the rapidly expanding Baby care industry. The Baby Innovation Awards provides public recognition for the achievements of baby care industry companies and products including Baby Clothes, Nursing and Feeding, Toys and Learning, Nursery, Strollers and more. For more information visit: About Dr. Talbot's Dr. Talbot's is a leading provider of safe and effective solutions for the whole family. Inspired by the belief that nature provides the best care for infants and parents, we developed products that harness the power of natural ingredients. About Dr. Talbot's Mom The Dr. Talbot's Mom line was created to support the health needs of pregnant and postpartum moms specifically. The line's best-sellers include the Peri Bottle, Postpartum Ice Pads, and Cooling Perineal Pad Liners. In 2024, Dr. Talbot's Mom emerged as the fastest-growing brand for prenatal and postpartum care on Media Contact: Travis Grant Baby Innovation Awards travis@ 949.667.4475Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
