Breast milk is nature’s original superfood – a calorie-rich elixir fortifying new-born babies against the harshness of the real world, while creating a life-long bond between mother and child. But delivering a baby can be a stressful experience, meaning many mothers are unable to produce milk for their new sons or daughters, a plight made worse when the baby came months premature and is fighting for his or her life a two or three-hour drive from home.

For these delicate newborns, cow’s milk is not an option, ruling out formula. To help give these babies the immune boost and protect them from necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) – a life-threatening condition that can require part of the baby’s bowel being removed – hospitals and neo-natal units turn to the Milk Bank in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, a collection and distribution centre that has provided breast milk for more than 5,500 premature and sick babies all over the island of Ireland – many of whom would not have survived nor thrived without it.

Ann McCrea, the founder and co-ordinator of the Milk Bank, spoke to Sean Moncrieff today about the essential role that the bank plays in helping premature babies. And the bank relies on the generosity and kindness of donor women, and that, regrettably, this kindness comes at the expense of very difficult loss:For the women who go through the trauma and heavy experience of losing a baby, Ann says that these mothers say that it helps them to get through the grieving process, aware that their loss comes with the knowledge that it is helping other families around Ireland to give their newborn the best chance of pulling through.Of course, with the health and wellbeing of premature babies in mind, the Irvinestown Milk Bank takes the screening of its milk very seriously, taking every measure to ensure that the milk it distributes around the country is in the best condition:If you are interested in finding out more about the Milk Bank or donating to it, you can contact the organisation at 048 686 283 33, or find more information here.