Israeli Breast Milk Bank Fights for Premature Infants’ Survival
Jerusalem, 17 November, 2024 (TPS) -- As the world marks World Prematurity Day on Sunday, Israel’s National Breast Milk Bank has been a lifeline for premature infants across Israel.
Housed within Magen David Adom’s national blood bank in Ramla — the world’s first fortified underground blood bank designed to survive missile attacks and earthquakes — the milk bank has steadily collected, tested, and distributed around 160 liters of breast milk every month to hospitals nationwide.
“Breast milk has many advantages, and it contains many protective antibodies and immune components on the baby against diseases and help to build the immune system and active ingredients that help to mature the brain and body – extremely important processes in premature and sick babies,” said Dr. Sharon Bransburg Tsavari, director of the milk bank.
“These ingredients are missing in baby food, therefore exposure to baby food can cause severe intestinal disease and damage to development. Breast milk, similar to a portion of blood, is a human tissue that has a variety of unique active maternal components – the irreplaceable composition and most of which also survive the processing processes in the bank. That’s why the contribution of breastfeeding women is important for these babies and premature babies,” she said.
Mother’s milk for babies born prematurely is not the same as mother’s milk for babies born after a full term.
Breast milk for premature babies is richer in certain nutrients, particularly proteins, fats, and calories, to support their rapid growth and development. Premature babies have higher energy needs and may have difficulty gaining weight, so this milk is designed to meet those needs. Preterm milk also contains higher levels of antibodies and immune components that are especially important for babies who have not yet developed a full immune system. It is also higher in essential fatty acids, growth factors, and bioactive components that help promote brain development, as premature babies’ brains are still developing rapidly.
Since the outbreak of the October 7 war, the MDA Breast Milk Bank has seen an outpouring of support, with approximately 600 new donors contributing their milk. These donors join an established network of mothers who make regular contributions to the bank. In the past year alone, the bank has provided around 4,000 liters of milk to hospitals, supporting hundreds of fragile infants, including those affected by the conflict.
About 10% of all babies are born prematurely. In Israel, this translates to approximately 15,000 premature infants each year, many of whom face life-threatening health risks due to their low birth weight or early arrival.
Almog Shor’s pregnancy took an unexpected turn in March when her water broke prematurely at 24 weeks. She was immediately hospitalized, facing the uncertainty of when her baby would be born. Despite the complications, Almog maintained a positive attitude, determined to keep a hopeful outlook for her baby.
At 27 weeks, Almog’s labor progressed rapidly, and she was rushed into an emergency cesarean section. Her son, Kochav, was born weighing just 990 grams.
In the early days after birth, Almog struggled to produce enough milk for her tiny son. This is where the MDA National Breast Milk Bank stepped in. The bank provided supplemental milk for Kochav until Almog’s own production was sufficient. Today, Almog breastfeeds her son without assistance and donates her excess milk to the bank. Over the past few months, she has contributed around 60 liters of milk.
“I noticed that I was storing a lot of milk in the freezer we bought especially for this purpose, while he was getting fresh milk. There is no reason for the milk to sit in the freezer if it can help babies who need it just like my Kochav did. Since then every time the freezer fills up I donate the milk to the milk bank,” she said. “I’m happy to be able to give back, especially knowing that Kochav benefited from this same support.”
Milk donors must meet specific health criteria, including blood tests for viral infections, to ensure the milk is safe. The milk is then stored under special conditions before being distributed to babies in need.