We are looking to fund 20 Symphony breast pumps and stands (£1500 each) and 10 Calesca milk warmers (£1,000 each) 

The Symphony breast pumps are used throughout the rest of the hospital, in the postnatal and children’s wards. Neonatal mums are under extreme stress, so we are keen to upgrade the breast pumps currently on offer to give mums the best and most effective expressing experience. Breast milk is hugely beneficial to premature and poorly babies. The neonatal unit has just completed trials with these new pumps, and feedback from mums taking part in the trials using loaned pumps has been 100% positive. The pumps will be available to use to express milk cot side and/or in the newly refurbished Expressing Room. 

Medea is a research based company, and they’ve developed their Symphony breast pumps to initiate, build and maintain a mum’s milk supply. The machine has two settings including an Initiate setting which allows women to use the machine straight after birth.  Research has shown that these specialist programmes, alongside hand expressing, can increase milk supply within the first 2 weeks by 50%. 

As well as supporting mums to have a good milk supply it is important to ensure that the milk given to babies is at the best quality. Warming expressed breast milk to the correct temperature will ensure the vitamins and nutrients remain within. The Calesca allows for fast thawing and gentle warming, which is very safe and effective. These will be a big improvement on the thermos flasks currently used at the neonatal unit.