CHANCES are you’ve donated to a foodbank at some point. But you’ve probably never dropped off a donation at a milk bank. Perhaps you didn’t even know they exist?

We’re not talking about pints of semi-skimmed or full-fat varieties, but rather human breast milk which can literally save a baby’s life.

The pandemic has brought to light the fact that milk banks are more in demand than ever.

Danielle Croucher knows all about this. The mum-of-one, from Rayleigh, has donated a staggering 25 litres of her own breast milk to The Human Milk Foundation – enough to feed 100 premature babies in hospital.

Danielle, aged 29, explained: “After having my daughter Isabella, I had a huge oversupply of milk – it practically came shooting out of me! My partner suggested that I look to donate it to babies in need, as he had seen it on a parenting group.”

Many people are unaware of just how reliant premature and vulnerable babies are on the immune-boosting properties of human milk.

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Family - Danielle with daughter Isabella and her partner

Not every mother is able or ready to provide the milk their baby needs, particularly if a baby is born early or she is unwell. This is where human milk banks step in.

Danielle, who works as a photographer, is supporting a fundraising scheme to help vulnerable babies who need human donor milk this Christmas.

“This pandemic has stretched many parents to the max and the last thing anyone should be worrying about is their child going hungry,” she said.

The Covid crisis has seen a 100 per cent increase in demand for donor human milk in lockdown.

The Human Milk Foundation – the UK’s first independent and non-profit human milk bank –believes a lack of face-to-face breastfeeding support services coupled with isolation has led to many mothers facing feeding challenges alone

Dr Natalie Shenker, co-founder of the Human Milk Foundation, said: “When demand is expected to be higher than ever, even the smallest of monetary donations can be lifesaving. Our aim is that if we can recruit enough mums, we will never have to turn down a family who needs donor human milk.”

Danielle knows first hand what a terrifying place the neonatal intensive care ward can be, having spent time there with Isabella.

She said: “The time I had in hospital with Isabella was nowhere near as serious as what some parents face, so my heart breaks for them.

“I can’t imagine how it must feel being separated from your baby for so long, or to be trying and trying to pump milk, but the stress you’re under meaning your body simply isn’t responding. It fills me with love knowing these little babies are being helped.”

Milk donations are anonymous so mums like Danielle don’t know where their milk is going. I don’t need to know specifics – all I care about is that there is a baby out there being helped,” she said.

By sharing her story, Danielle is supporting a new campaign launched by women’s health brand Elvie asking people to make financial donations to help keep Human Milk Foundation banks going.

Elvie will be matching donations made to the cause throughout December – a month when demand for milk donations traditionally skyrocket.

Tania Boler, CEO of Elvie, said: “In the UK alone, only one in 100 people are aware that banks for human milk donation exist. And yet, charities like the Human Milk Foundation and similar groups save hundreds of lives, and support countless families with their work to promote and supply safe, screened donor milk to sick and premature babies.”

Donate via www.gofundme.com/f/elvie-milkbanks.