FEATURE
MILK BANK DONATIONS Whangai Ora Milk Bank is the first within the North Island and the very committed group of volunteers is devoted to saving the lives and improving the health of babies without access to their own mothers’ milk. With the recent opening of the Whangai Ora Milk Bank in Palmerston North, the opportunity to both donate and receive screened human milk has become easier. This short term gift allows people to provide their babies with the superior nutritional and immune benefits of breast milk if they are unable to do so themselves for any reason. Whangai Ora can provide milk to anyone within the MidCentral Health Board District (Manawatu, Tararua and Horowhenua). Because supply fluctuates, the youngest and most vulnerable babies are supplied first. As a donor, you are able to provide an invaluable supply to a baby in need. The
process to become a donor is very simple and the entire existence of the Whangai Ora Milk Bank relies on the commitment of these donors. There is a Health Screening Form and Consent Form to complete on meeting with a representative and then you are supplied with either milk bottles or bags to take away and collect your milk in. After collecting your first litre of milk you are required to complete a blood test and following these results, with all being in order, you can become a donor! This initial litre requirement is to ensure that pumping and donating is going to fit in with your lifestyle and that you are prepared for the process before going ahead. After that, there is no minimum requirement or frequency to supply and all donations are appreciated. Just 50ml of donated human breast milk can supply a baby under 1kg with enough milk for 24 hours so every donated drop counts.
Hire a Tens Machine Hire a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machine to help reduce your pain during labour and childbirth. Palmerston North Parents Centre (PNPC) has five TENS machines available for hire by our members for ONLY $20 for up to four weeks’ hireage (plus a $40.00 refundable bond). Machines can be booked for the two weeks prior to your due date until two weeks post due date. Watch a video interview with a TENS machine expert at youtube.com/ watch?v=4gUEtYAqPw8
Book your TENS Machine from: Palmerston North Parents Centre, 117 Ruahine Street, info@palmyparentscentre.org.nz. Please pay in cash. Full terms and conditions supplied upon inquiry. Note: TEENS pads are reusable, you can purchase new TENS pads for $35.
16 PALMY PARENT . PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
