Urgent appeal for breast milk donation at the University Hospital of Orleans to save premature newborns

A lactarium is an institution where breast milk is collected and stored for premature babies. Sometimes born several weeks premature, these babies are born too early and have an immature digestive system. “Breast milk is crucial for premature newborns due to its nutritional value, the antibodies it contains and its positive effect on the brain and cognitive function,” admits Farida Dahri-Mobarek, director of pediatric health at the University Hospital of Orleans (Loiret), which is located in urgent search for mothers of children under one year old – milk donors.

At present, science does not allow us to detect these nutritional values ​​in synthetic milk. In addition, raw breast milk is specially adapted to the needs of premature infants, helping to prevent pathologies such as ulcerative necrotizing enterocolitis.

Unfortunately, the lactarium of the University Hospital of Orléans has recorded an alarming drop in the number of donors in recent years: 210 mothers from the Loire Valley agreed to donate their milk in 2021, compared to 179 in 2023, a decrease of 30%. Gone are the days when it was the University Hospital of Orléans that supplied the lactaria of other departments when there was a shortage of milk. Today, to save the lives of premature babies, the University Hospital of Orleans pays 80 euros per liter of milk collected by neighboring colleagues.

White gold is becoming increasingly rare in the Loire. This explains the high cost of this natural product, which requires a lot of pasteurization work carried out in lactariums to ensure that the baby’s milk is sterilized, removing harmful bacteria and retaining only those necessary, vital for the baby’s nutrition.

I can send a courier to the dairy store!

According to Farida Dahri-Mobarek, the decline in donation is due to a lack of communication: “The public today knows about organ and blood donation, but we don’t talk about milk donation. »

Manon, 21, is one of the mothers who decided to become a donor to help other children: “I’m lucky that I produce a lot of milk. If I don’t give it away, it will go in the bin, it will be a waste of time, so I might as well help,” the new mother of adorable little Axel, 9 months, gifted with a very beautiful light brown skin color, tells us. eyes. However, this generous approach did not immediately resonate with her friends, who did not understand why she would give her milk to strangers, especially since it must have taken time to deliver it each time.

The University Hospital of Orleans has found a solution to this problem: mothers from the Loiret who want to donate their milk can contact the lactarium. Once surpluses accumulate, the lactarium will arrange collection at home to ensure quick and safe intake. While waiting for the courier to arrive, simply put the milk in the freezer. The shelf life of frozen milk is four months, after pasteurization – six months.

Breast milk can be given in freeze-dried form for up to 1 year. But in France, only the lactarium of Bordeaux (Gironde) has the necessary equipment to perform the operation. Powdered milk is regularly sent to French overseas territories to rescue babies far from mainland France.

“I remember a mother who, for personal reasons, decided not to breastfeed her child,” says Farida Dahri-Mobarek. It turns out that her baby was born several weeks premature. At risk due to her low weight, breastfeeding became the solution to save her baby. This mother produced so much milk that she eventually donated the excess to the children next to her, now convinced of the importance of this product for premature babies! »

Faced with a vital problem facing the University Hospital of Orleans, Lactarius urgently seeks support from mothers of children under one year of age. Farida Dahri-Mobarek would like to see geographical areas of the Loiret where donations are very rare, but breastfeeding mothers have the opportunity to mobilize. These are Gennois, Pithiviers and Montargua.

To be eligible to donate milk, you must visit a doctor in person or via secure video. The Lactarium of the University Hospital of Orleans can be contacted by email [email protected] and by telephone 02.38.61.33.16.