Countess of Chester Hospital Milk Bank's innovative training course

The Countess of Chester Hospital Milk Bank's innovative training course, to support bereaved families with lactation choices, has been rolled out to maternity units across the UK.

An innovative training course designed to help maternity staff support families following the loss of a child has been launched by the Milk Bank at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and is now set to be rolled out at several neonatal and maternity units across the UK. 

Part of a collaboration with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the course called Lactation After Loss: Choices for Bereaved Families, is free to access for NHS staff and focuses on educating medical staff about lactation choices after bereavement, ensuring they are equipped with the right knowledge and sensitivity to support bereaved families after loss. 

The origins of the course began when the Milk Bank team were approached by a recently bereaved mum called Holly who asked about how she could donate milk in her son Bodhi’s memory. 

After Bodhi, was sadly stillborn at 41 weeks, Holly had faced significant challenges in finding information and support regarding milk donation, but thanks to the Milk Bank, was able to donate Bodhi's milk in his memory, leading to the establishment of the Memory Milk Gift initiative in 2021. 

This initiative honours the memory of babies like Bodhi by offering families the opportunity to donate their milk in remembrance of their child.  

As the Memory Milk Gift initiative started to gain traction, the Milk Bank began to receive feedback from maternity staff that highlighted a significant gap in training and education when it came to talking to bereaved families about the sensitive issue of lactation after loss. 

It compelled Laura Atherton Milk Bank operational manager to collaborate with Professor Nick Embleton from the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in getting input from bereaved families to develop the new course, which has been funded by the Tiny Lives Charity. 

Laura explained: 

"A lot of staff were unsure whether discussing breast milk with bereaved mothers was appropriate, with some families unaware that for many women, lactation can begin or continue even after the loss of their baby. 

"Without guidance they can feel lost and unsupported, so our goal with the course is to empower healthcare providers to have these conversations in a compassionate and informed way,"

The course, covers the physical and emotional aspects of lactation after loss, offering tools and confidence to support families in making informed decisions about managing their milk supply, whether through donation, lactation suppression or other methods. 

The Milk Bank at Chester has received more than 200 referrals into the Memory Milk Gift initiative, and hundreds of families have gone on to donate milk in memory of their baby, demonstrating just how important choices are to families.

The course is now being rolled out across several neonatal and maternity units across the country, via the NHS learning hub and supported by online learning sessions, at hospitals across the North West, North East, South West and Yorkshire and Humberside Neonatal Networks. 

Laura now hopes the course will become part of mandatory training for all maternity and neonatal staff. 

She said:

"It would be great for this course to become mandatory throughout the country for all families to receive a person-centred care approach where they are listened to and where the healthcare professionals looking after them empower them to make informed decisions regarding their lactation," 

Bodhi’s mum Holly explained:  "Being able to donate Bodhi's milk in his memory was a really positive step in managing my grief. I’m really grateful that this course has been made, I know donation after loss isn’t for everybody but for some families it’s going to make a difference. I hope that all healthcare professionals who care for bereaved families can learn from this course and will be able to offer choices to families,” she said. 

Cathy Chadwick, Chief Operating Officer at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are committed to investing in innovative projects and are proud to support the Milk Bank at Chester with this fantastic new training course. 

“This is not only a vital resource for grieving families but also an important step in ensuring compassionate, informed care during one of the most challenging times in a parent’s life.” 

The Lactation Choices After Loss course has been endorsed by several charities and organisations; BAPM, NNA, Bliss, EFCNI, Mama Academy, Isla’s Journey, Abigails Footsteps, 4 Louis, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and Aching Arms 

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System.   

Its services are provided from three locations: The Countess of Chester Hospital, Ellesmere Port Hospital and Tarporley War Memorial Hospital. 

Pictured - The Milk Bank team.