Norfolk County Council and Human Milk Foundation launch new programme of breastfeeding support

Norfolk County Council and Human Milk Foundation launch new programme of breastfeeding support Norfolk County Council and the Human Milk Foundation (HMF) have teamed up to launch a new breastfeeding programme to promote breastfeeding and expand milk banking services across the county.

The foundation will be able to support up to 120 families across Norfolk over the coming year. International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) will work closely with families, providing antenatal information and postnatal support to help parents to breastfeed, with access to donor milk if needed.

Norfolk is the first county to pilot such a programme, as part of its Start for Life offer. Councillor Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for Children's Services, said: "The work that the Human Milk Foundation does to help empower and support families on their breastfeeding journey is highly admirable. We are excited to work together to ensure that babies and families who would benefit from donor milk is able to access it.

"As we celebrate National Breastfeeding week (1 Aug to 7 Aug), I encourage new parents to access the Start for Life offer, which provides support to parents and carers from a child's conception until their second birthday."

Natalie Shenker, Co-Founder of the Human Milk Foundation said, "Everyone at the HMF is committed to building a truly equitable service, where families can donate and access donor human milk, free at the point of need, wherever they live. By investing in expanding our milk banking services in Norfolk and the research evaluation of its impact, Norfolk County Council are enabling the start of a truly exciting innovation in perinatal health for families across Norfolk and beyond."

In 2019, HMF opened a dedicated donor milk hub at Hellesdon Hospital in partnership with Norfolk Blood Bikes. Donor milk is donated by mothers with breast milk which is surplus to their own baby's needs.

Since the hub was opened, more than 100 milk donors have been recruited from Norfolk, donating more than 1,400 litres of donor milk to help other families in need.

Norfolk Blood Bikes provides efficient transport of donor milk to hospitals and families in the region. Through their Hearts Milk Bank, the foundation provides donor human milk to babies in Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, James Paget Hospital and Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Kings Lynn.

Agnieszka, a milk donor from Norwich recently donated seven litres of milk to the Hearts Milk Bank. Agnieszka said: "I decided to become a milk donor because I had a lot of breast milk available, and I wanted to make difference. When I found out I can donate milk to help other babies and mothers in need I felt like I'm doing my part in helping. It was the easiest decision I've ever made to donate my milk knowing how much difference it will make. I came across Heart Milk Bank, and it was very easy and straightforward to become a donor. It was quick and easy to fill in the questionnaire and do my blood test and before I knew, I had a lovely volunteer at my doorstep to pick up my breast milk."

All donors undergo screening blood tests, and all donor milk is pasteurised at the Hearts Milk Bank HQ in Hertfordshire, tested by microbiology and then transported to the milk hub in Norwich where it is stored in specialist freezers.

Parents and carers looking for more information and support on infant feeding can visit Start for Life offer for 0-2-year-olds - Infant feeding support.

Read more about World Breastfeeding Week.