Holistic Birth Hypnobirthing

27/09/2025

25/01/2025

A milk bank has been set up as part of the first hub in Wales to help ill or premature babies and, over time, mothers facing feeding difficulties.

The new milk bank hub, based in Singleton Hospital, Swansea, is supplying human milk to babies being cared for in hospital, with much of the milk being donated by Welsh mothers.

Donor milk can help ill or premature babies in supporting their feeding, growth and development and in preventing complications, while also supporting mothers who need time to establish their own milk supply.

Until now, hospitals in Wales had received donor milk directly from milk banks in England.

As the milk hub begins operating to its full capacity, babies across south Wales will be able to receive milk from the hub in Singleton Hospital, as it will supply donor milk to the other health boards in south Wales.

Having a milk hub based locally will also allow more women from Wales to donate their milk to help support mothers and babies who need it.

Taylor Pearson was the first mother to put herself forward as a donor after giving birth to her daughter at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, in January 2021.

The 29-year-old, from Cardiff, decided to donate her excess breast milk to help other mothers who may be experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding.

“After my daughter was born last year I found that I had an excessive supply of breastmilk which was more than she needed,” she said.

“I asked staff at the hospital if they had any milk bank facilities after reading about it online and I was told there wasn’t anything in Wales.

“I contacted Hearts Milk Bank, just north of London, who told me that a hub would be opening in Wales. Closer to the time they contacted me and asked if I still wanted to donate and I said yes.

“I didn’t want to waste my breast milk. I know quite a few people who have had babies in NICU (neonatal intensive care units) and I know it can be quite difficult to get your supply to breastfeed, especially when you’re separated from your baby.

“If people really want to breastfeed but are struggling then this can help.”

Each donor goes through a screening process, which includes questionnaires and blood tests to rule out any infections.

They then provide at least two litres of milk over 10 weeks, which is then pasteurised, before being frozen and stored ready to be given to babies.

Taylor added: “It’s giving families who have their heart set on breastmilk more options to feed their baby when not having access to milk is the only reason they can’t do so.”

Helen James, matron for neonatal services, said: “Exclusive breast milk feeding can improve long-term development outcomes and donor milk is often used as a bridging gap while lactation is being established.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Swansea Bay and a privilege to host this hub to support neonatal units across Wales.”

Blood Bikes Wales, a charity that provides a free courier service to the NHS, had previously been transporting donor milk from England to Singleton Hospital for babies in need.

The charity will continue to deliver the supplies to Swansea and to each of the health board regions in Wales to make it easier for mothers and babies to receive the donor milk.

Dr Sujoy Banerjee, consultant neonatologist and clinical director for children and young people services, said: “The first human milk bank hub in Wales will offer an invaluable resource for the care of premature and sick newborn babies, preventing complications, and improving outcomes.

“It will provide equity and easy access of human milk for clinical services in south Wales and will make it easier for lactating mothers to donate their excess milk for the benefit of many babies.

“The project is a great example of a social, healthcare and research collaboration and will raise awareness and promote breastfeeding in our communities.

“We are very proud to be given the opportunity to host this project.”

The hub has been launched thanks to research and funding from Swansea University, which will study the impact it has on supporting families.

Read more on our website: https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/news/swansea-bay-health-news/milk-bank-for-newborn-babies-opens-in-swansea-bay-in-first-for-wales/

21/05/2024

Another wonderfull 5 weeks hypnobirthing have ended ❤️

05/05/2024

I am feeling emotionl about the International day of the midwife...

Being a midwife is so similiar to being a mother. The only two things I for sure always wanted to be! I am so lucky 💓 not only to call the three most beautiful souls my sons but also to have the most amazing job in the world. But it is not a job really... it is a calling... something that is not separate to me, like motherhood it will never end it is just in my essence. Nurturing. Children and mothers. There are so many similarities! Being a mother doesn't end at 5 pm and you go home and for a new shift tomorrow.... you also don't go home from work as a midwife and leave your job behind... it is me and always with me.

When your kids are little and they wake up in the middle of the night without a question you get up, change their nappies, and accompine them to the toilet for many years to come. If they are hungry you feed them if they need love you hold them no matter the time of the day there is just no other way, they are not separate from you and there is nothing more important. You reassure them when they are scared of the dark and instead help them to see the beauty of the night sky. They tell you they love you and you know it is true. But motherhood is also hard and there are times when they shout at you, hate you and nothing seems right. But regardless you love them and they love you unconditionally and you support them to grow and be strong and independent. You do the most important job supporting them to be able to go out into the world and support themselves and give to others from the source of love they have been nurtured from.

As a midwife you are also ready whenever your phone rings, whenever a woman needs you no matter what time of the day there is nothing more important than this woman to feel safe and supported. And you hold them, reassure them, feed them, even accombine them to the toilet, but most important empower them to grow beyond what they thought they were capable of. And still at times midwifery is hard and demanding, there are days when you don't even p*e or eat enough, when you are tired and nothing you do seems enough. But like in motherhood when you can't see your own light the women and families remind you how important it is what you do, they trust you and thank you, you are forever part of their experience... their journey into motherhood!

To raise a child or supporting a pregnant woman means having hope for the future, for the generations to come and there is nothing else I would prefer doing even if it means being woken up in the middle of the night ❤️

I raise boys and of course I don't ignore the importance of man in my job either. Men are an integral part of the whole journey. They are dearly needed as strong, loving, gentle and peaceful protectors. It is beautiful to see them finding their role, closeing the circle and nurturing each other.

Sending much love and appreciation to all the beautiful midwives I am working alongside and the once I was lucky to meet on my journey as well as to all the families that allowed me to be part of theirs ❤️🧡💛

22/12/2022

09/07/2020

14/05/2020

Look up my services for more information about hypnobirthing classes. During the pandemic also available via zoom.