Ireland’s only milk bank based in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, provides lifesaving breast milk to over 900 babies a year.

They are currently facing an exceptional shortage of milk despite heavy donor recruitment.

Managed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the Milk Bank receives donations from around Ireland.

The Milk Bank has been exceptionally busy for months, caring for increasingly smaller babies and helping a greater number of multiple births across Ireland, North and South, which has resulted in them using up large quantities of donated breast milk.

This has drastically reduced the stocks of milk that are left in the Milk Bank.

The Milk Bank is appealing to mothers that may have a quantity of milk in their freezer, for help; particularly if this milk is from a premature baby where stocks are at their lowest.

Mothers with babies under 3 months of age, who think that they could provide at least 3 litres of milk, are also needed.

All that potential donors have to do is contact the Milk Bank on tmb.irvinestown@westerntrsut.hscni.net or ring (048 from ROI) 686 28333 and the milk bank staff will guide them through the donation process