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Swedes seek breast milk donors via Facebook

The Local/dl
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Swedes seek breast milk donors via Facebook

Swedish health authorities have turned to Facebook in an attempt to find women who are willing to donate breast milk.

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“We’re looking for healthy new mothers with children 0-3 months old,” reads the “Give breast milk, save lives” (Ge bröstmjölk, rädda liv) campaign’s Facebook page, launched in early February.

“Your surplus of milk doesn’t need to be much, even small amounts are useful.”

The milk is needed for the 400 to 500 prematurely born infants who receive care each year at neonatal clinics in Östergötland County in central Sweden.

“If the babies’ mothers don’t have enough breast milk, they need milk from other mothers as that is the best, and in some cases, the only food for them,” the Östergötland County Council said in a statement.

According to health authorities, breast milk can be the difference between life and death for premature infants because there isn’t any milk replacement formula tailored for such small children.

The health authorities hope that bringing their appeal to Facebook will raise awareness about the need for breast milk donors.

Since its launch, the site has attracted 216 “likes”, with several commenters indicating they would be willing to donate.

Potential donors will be required to go through a health screening, and those candidates deemed suitable will be supplied with an electric pump as well as “a certain amount of economic compensation” for their troubles.

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