Maintain and expand a coordinated network of donor human milk bank services

Overview

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to maintain and expand delivery of a coordinated network of donor human milk banks and continue the research fellowship program to undertake research to improve the safety and quality of donor milk. This grant will support work to harmonise accessibility criteria for donor human milk across Australia. Pasteurised donor human milk (PDHM) is recommended by the World Health Organization and the Australian Breastfeeding Association as a better alternative to infant formula for premature babies. Premature babies without access to their mother’s own breast milk, or donor human milk, spend a longer period in hospital, are at greater risk of infection and sepsis, and are at great risk of Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC), a gut disease that has a high mortality rate. The practice of supplemental PDHM feeding is underpinned by evidence showing a near doubling in risk of NEC with use of supplementary formula compared to PDHM.