Other content tagged: human milk banks
The legislative framework of donor human milk and human milk banking in Europe
When mothers own milk is not available, donor human milk (DHM) is the best alternative to nourish preterm or sick babies. Nevertheless, human milk banks (HMB) within Europe are rarely and heterogeneously regulated. A study reviews these differences in regulations and their implications for the use of DHM. Results confirm the importance of establishing a national and international regulatory framework for HMB.…
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The culture of breastfeeding and human milk donation before and after the pandemic: best practice example from Brazil
Breastfeeding is potentially one of the top nutrition interventions that can reduce the mortality of children under 5 years of age. For preterm infants, breastfeeding is also an important strategy to warrant health and quality of life, as well as bonding, and although it can be a more difficult process, it is possible and should be encouraged, protected, promoted, and supported by everyone: healthcare professionals and families. For those preemies whose mothers cannot provide breastmilk, the second-best option of nutrition…
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Maintaining human milk bank services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
Human Milk Bank (HMB) services have been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand the impact, a Virtual Communication Network (VCN) was formed to collect data and experiences from HMBs across 35 countries. Every year approx. 800,000 infants receive donor human milk (DHM) worldwide. However, seven pandemic-related vulnerabilities to HMB service provision were identified. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends donor human milk from milk banks (HMB) as the next best…
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Why the EU needs policy recommendations on human milk regulation
An interview with Professor Enrico Bertino, President European Milk Bank Association (EMBA); Representative Union of European Neonatal & Perinatal Societies (UENPS); Neonatal Unit of the University, AOU City of Health and Science of Turin, Italy and member of the expert panel on the policy recommendations on Human Milk Regulation in the EU. EFCNI: Professor Bertino, why was there a need for this project and what was your personal motivation to join the…
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Expert Roundtable on Human Milk Regulation in the EU
On 3 June, a group of interdisciplinary and international high-level experts in the field of human milk joined our digital roundtable on “Human Milk Regulation”. The aim of the meeting was to explore and discuss the need for a harmonised regulatory approach of human milk in the European Union. Silke Mader (Chairwoman EFCNI) and Professor Enrico Bertino (President EMBA) welcomed the group and thanked for the engagement to join the project, followed by an introduction to the work of EFCNI.…
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Establishing a human milk bank – an interview with Prof. Rolf Schlösser
Interview with Professor Rolf Schlösser, University Hospital Frakfurt, Germany Question: What were the reasons for establishing the human milk bank at the University Hospital Frankfurt? For a long time, our team has been working on how to improve the enteral nutrition of our preterm babies. With the very immature children, it is known that the intestine is not yet as well developed as with term born babies, especially…
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EFCNI at the Annual Meeting of ESPGHAN
The 51st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 9 to 12 May 2018. At the EFCNI booth, our colleagues Johanna and Philine represented the foundation and informed participants about our general work and current projects. Johanna Walz, Professor Berthold Koletzko, Philine Jaeger In addition, we used this congress to launch several new publications: • The position paper and toolkit for promoting human milk banks are now available…
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