HU-UFMA Milk Bank appeals for donations after stock drops to a third of ideal Reproduction/TV TEM The Human Milk Bank of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão (HU-UFMA), part of the HU Brasil Network, has reduced stock and needs human milk donations to maintain care for hospitalized newborns, especially premature and low birth weight babies. Currently, the bank has approximately 20 liters of human milk, while the volume considered ideal to meet demand is at least 60 liters. ? Click here and subscribe to the g1 Maranhão channel on WhatsApp According to nurse Liane Soares, from the HU-UFMA Human Milk Bank, donations can be made in person at the unit or through home collection. Mothers with babies admitted to the hospital can also donate their excess milk. "We carry out quality control, from hand and breast hygiene to the use of the necessary materials to avoid any contamination during collection", explains the nurse. Mothers interested in home collection should contact us by phone (98) 99163-6833, through which they will receive guidance on all stages of the donation. "A pre-registration is carried out, and the donor receives guidance on how to extract milk at home safely. Our team schedules the delivery of the necessary materials, such as sterilized bottles, labels, mask and hat, and collects the milk at home weekly", details the nurse. Who can donate? Mothers interested in donating human milk must be in good health, with no lesions on their breasts. If you use medications, they must be compatible with breastfeeding. "The donated milk must always be surplus from the baby's own food. If the mother realizes that she is producing more milk than her child needs, she can become a donor. The greater the stimulus for milk withdrawal, the greater the production tends to be", advises Liane. Milk is distributed as prescribed by the medical team and nutritionists at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Human milk is the most recommended food for babies and helps to strengthen the immune system, being an important ally in the recovery of hospitalized newborns. ?Raw human milk can be stored frozen for up to 15 days. After going through the pasteurization process, the shelf life is extended to up to six months, maintaining safety for consumption by newborns.