Thanks to Milton Keynes Hospital Charity’s generous supporters, donations have enabled us to purchase 4 hospital-grade breast pumps that can be loaned to mothers of sick and premature babies to use at home.
Recognising a need
When babies are too small or too sick to breastfeed, the NNU team support mothers in expressing their milk. While Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) provides breast pumps for mothers to use during their stay, once they are discharged from the postnatal ward, they need access to a pump at home.
Specialist-grade breast pumps, costing £180 each, offer vital benefits for both mothers and their babies receiving expert care in the NNU. These pumps provide convenience and continuity, ensuring mothers can continue expressing milk after leaving the hospital.
Many parents of premature babies are unprepared for an early delivery, and so expressing milk may not be their immediate priority during such a challenging time. However, having access to a breast pump is crucial in supporting their journey in the NNU. Not only will this service bridge the gap until families can either purchase or hire pumps of their own, but it will also help families who wish to continue expressing breast milk but cannot afford to buy a pump themselves.
Thanks to donations to Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, funding was secured to launch this additional and essential service, making sure more families in the NNU receive the support they need.
Facts about the Neonatal Unit
- Approximately 80 members of staff work in the NNU providing care and support to babies and families
- Each year, the team cares for more than 350 premature, small, or ill babies
- Vital life-saving equipment and a special environment are needed to care for these babies – some of whom are born as early as 24 weeks old (16 weeks early) and weigh as little as 500 grams
*Stats accurate at time of publishing April 2025
NNU Sister Paulette Jasi, said:
Having a baby in the Neonatal Unit can be an incredibly emotional and challenging experience for parents. The new breast pumps will provide vital support for mothers, enabling them to continue expressing milk when they have been discharged from hospital.
For babies on the NNU that are born prematurely or sick, breast milk plays a crucial role in a baby’s growth and health, offering essential nutrients that only a mother can provide. Currently, 70% of mothers in our care say they would like to breastfeed or provide breastmilk for their babies, highlighting the demand for breast pumps.
The NNU team are very grateful to the supporters of Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, whose donations have made the purchase of new breast pumps possible. The positive impact is already evident, helping to provide continued comfort and support to families in need.
Other projects your donations have funded for the Neonatal Unit
- Neonatal 3D Tour Project video
- New counselling room for parents
- A camera and printer
- Three state-of-the-art BabyLeo incubators
- New furniture for our Neonatal family room
