Babies who are born very prematurely or sick often need help feeding via feeding tubes, these babies are also separated from their mothers straight after birth as they are taken the neonatal unit. Mums of babies in neonatal care are under a great deal of stress and are not able to build the same milk supply as they would if the baby could breast feed.

Breast milk is the most valuable source of nutrition for premature or sick babies and It is essential mums on the neonatal unit have the access to hospital grade breast pumps. Unfortunately there is shortage of breast pumps on the neonatal intensive care unit at Royal Oldham hospital, the unit has 37 cots to care for 37 babies but currently only 5 breast pumps available to support mums with early expression. This can result in mums queuing to be able to express breast milk and also can mean more time away from their baby. Our aim is to have a breast pump by each of the 37 cots so that mums can express breast milk when they need to and without leaving the cot side.

Please support our campaign to support more mums with babies in neonatal care to express essential breast milk for their babies.