From Grief to Giving: The Hidden Power of Milk Donation after Perinatal Loss

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From Grief to Giving: The Hidden Power of Milk Donation after Perinatal Loss

The journey of motherhood doesn’t always unfold as expected. For mothers experiencing perinatal loss—whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn—the emotional toll is profound. Yet, in the midst of sorrow, some women find healing in an unexpected place: donating breast milk.

A groundbreaking study conducted across 34 Italian Human Milk Banks (HMBs) sheds light on how milk donation after loss is being offered, perceived, and implemented. This pioneering work opens a conversation on grief, healing, and the role of compassionate care in neonatal settings.

 

🍼 Why Milk Donation after Loss Matters

Breast milk is known as the "liquid gold" of infant nutrition—critical for babies, especially those born prematurely or with medical needs. But for bereaved mothers, lactation doesn't stop when life does. Their bodies continue to produce milk, often without guidance on how to manage it.

For some, donating milk becomes a healing ritual—a meaningful way to transform grief into generosity. As one mother put it, “It helped me feel like my baby’s short life still had purpose.”

 

📊 Survey Snapshot: What Italian Milk Banks Are Doing

Researchers reached out to 43 Italian HMBs, with 79% responding. Key findings included:

  • 65% of milk banks already offer the option of donation to bereaved mothers.
  • Donation is most commonly proposed after neonatal death, and occasionally in cases of stillbirth.
  • Requests to donate often come from the mothers themselves.
  • Lactation counselling is provided by various professionals: HMB staff, neonatologists, nurses, and occasionally obstetricians.

 

🚧 Barriers to Implementation

Despite growing interest, several challenges remain:

  • Emotional Sensitivity: Many healthcare workers fear intensifying a mother’s grief by discussing milk donation too soon.
  • Lack of Training: Staff often lack the communication and psychological skills needed to offer this support effectively.
  • Medical Constraints: In some cases, lactation is suppressed early by clinical protocols, preventing donation.
  • Administrative Concerns: Requirements like blood tests for donor approval can be difficult for grieving mothers.

 

🌱 What Can Be Done?

Participants in the study emphasized the need for:

  • Training healthcare workers in bereavement support and sensitive communication.
  • Standardized protocols across hospitals and milk banks.
  • Awareness-building campaigns to normalize milk donation after loss as an option, not a burden.

This isn’t about pushing grieving mothers to donate—it’s about giving them the choice and support to do so, if and when they are ready.

💬 AQuiet Act of Courage

Milk donation after perinatal loss remains a deeply personal and often overlooked act of compassion. It’s a testament to the resilience of mothers who, even in the face of unimaginable loss, choose to give life to others.

By supporting this practice with proper training, empathy, and infrastructure, we not only honor these women’s strength—but also ensure their silent generosity reaches the babies who need it most.

🔗 Full Study:
Milk Donation Following Perinatal Loss (PDF)
📖 Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences, Vol. 6, Issue 4


HOW TO SUBMIT MANUSCRPIT:

You can also submit your manuscript through online https://www.jelsciences.com/submit-form.php
or through E mail address: bridgetjones.srl@gmail.com

Contact Us
For questions or assistance during the submission process, please contact:
Bridget Jones
Assistant Publishing Manager

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