Milk of human kindness

Beneficial for recipient and donor
'Breast milk is much better tolerated than formula and of course contains the all-important immune components,' adds Gillian. Giving premature babies breast milk increases their chances of survival and helps their long-term development. It also takes the pressure off the mother, who may be unable to breastfeed due to sickness or stress.

'We hear a lot about those mothers unable to produce enough milk, and while, of course, milk banks are a Godsend to these women, they're also invaluable to those who have so much milk it's uncomfortable,' says Sandra Tanner from the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM). 'It's great that mums with a surplus can put it to good use instead of tipping it down the sink after the frustration of endless expressing.'

Another woman's milk
It's not unusual for some mothers to feel uncomfortable about their baby receiving the breast milk of another woman. 'Reactions range from delight to abject horror,' says Gillian Weaver. 'Some new mums feel so strongly, they'd rather use formula. Part of our job is educating new mums about the health benefits of breast milk for their babies.' 'Psychologically, there's no need to feel uneasy about giving your child the milk of another woman,' says Sandra Tanner of the ABM. 'After all, we're prepared to feed our babies formulas based on cow's milk. You're still physically feeding - the emotional attachment is still there.'