More premature babies will receive potentially life-saving donated breastmilk with the opening of a new milk bank in Brisbane.
The Kelvin Grove facility is expected to help meet future demand for donated breastmilk, anticipated to rise by 1,000 litres per year for the next two years according to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
There are about 5,000 premature babies born in Queensland every year; about 1,000 of those are born at fewer than 32 weeks' gestation and can receive donated milk.
It means about 360 milk donors will be needed in Brisbane to meet demand.
Hospitals will be able to order the donated breastmilk on demand for premature babies from the facility, born out of a merger between Lifeblood Milk and Queensland Milk Bank.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood chief medical officer Joanne Pink told ABC Radio Brisbane the facility would collect, pasteurise, and distribute more than 1,500 litres of donated breastmilk for babies in six neonatal intensive care units and 13 special care nurseries across Queensland annually.
"To be a breastmilk donor, you need to have extra milk available, meet our donor eligibility requirements, and contact us at Lifeblood," she said.
"It's actually very similar to donating blood. The donors go through a comprehensive screening process and testing which includes an interview and blood test."
To receive donated breastmilk, generally babies need to have been born before 32 weeks gestation, Dr Pink said.
"These little babies are often very underweight as well, so less than 1,500 grams, unfortunately," she said.
"So in general about 70 to 80 per cent of babies in that circumstance will need to have some supplementation of formula during their state in the neonatal intensive care unit."
The facility, funded by the federal Health Department will also enable research into the outcomes of donated breastmilk for babies born after 32 weeks.
But most states only provide breastmilk to early pre-term babies, Lifeblood said.
Mother of two Erin donated about 42 litres of breastmilk after the birth of her second premature child in the hopes of lessening the stress for other parents.
With her second child, Erin said she was "producing more than enough milk".
"There was plenty filling up the freezer and I knew I could pass on my extra milk to other babies that might need it," she said.
While Erin does not know how many babies have received the milk, she said "even if it's just one, that's wonderful".
"It's definitely tough [having a premature baby], it's a rollercoaster, you have lots of good days and lots of bad days," Erin said.
