NEW mums are being asked to donate breast milk to help premature babies at Dorset County Hospital.
Today the hospital becomes a new satellite for the national Human Milk Banking scheme.
Elizabeth Carter, breastfeeding co-ordinator for Dorset Primary Care Trust, said: "Breast milk is particularly important to premature babies and every day you give breast milk it is of benefit to your baby.
"We want local mums to donate so we can give more donated breast milk and less formula milk to special care babies at Dorset County Hospital.
"Up until now we haven't been able to use breast milk very much because it's expensive."
The launch of the scheme in West Dorset coincides with Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
Mrs Carter said mothers of babies under six-months-old were particularly useful to the scheme.
She said: "We will collect donor milk and take the frozen milk to Princess Anne's hospital in Southampton to be processed. Then we get breast milk back to be used here."
Human Milk Banking already takes place at about 14 centres across the UK. To donate contact Mrs Carter on 01305 255910 or Linda Walter on 01305 254229.
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