2016 HMBANA Conference:Learning About the Science of Milk Banking

By Julia Weatherby

Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin Board of Directors

Did you know there is so much research and science specific to milk banking that there is an entire conference devoted to it? Every two years, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) hosts an international conference on donor human milk and milk banking. This year, the two-day conference was held in Orlando, Florida. Five people from the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin attended, including myself. I was attending for the first time. Other attendees and speakers included people from other milk banks, researchers, neonatologists, and other experts in nutrition, lactation and health.

While the conference was only two days long, it was packed full of educational and inspiring presentations. The conference had scientific presentations, as well as talks about social and public policy issues. We heard about the status of milk banking and breastfeeding across the globe.

I learned quite amazing things about breast milk and breastfeeding. The underlying process of breastfeeding is more complex than I had realized and the various components of breastmilk impact babies in so many ways. I learned that what I assumed was a simple and precise task of analyzing the content of milk is in reality actually challenging and expensive. In addition to that, a mother’s breastmilk varies in its content from the beginning of a feed to the end, as well as during different times of day, and from week to week. Between mothers, there are great variations as well. This makes for fascinating, but also difficult research.

One of the most interesting presentations was about microbiomes of the mother and baby.  Microbes live inside and on our body within microbiomes (skin, mouth, and gut), and affect all of us in terms of our overall health, immune health, weight and mental health. Microbes living in the mother’s microbiomes get transferred to the baby through birth, skin-to-skin contact and breastmilk. Just as there are variations in breastmilk content, we have variations in our microbiomes. By feeding a baby human breastmilk, we can ensure the infant receives beneficial microbes that are necessary for being a healthy human.

The highlight of the conference experience was being able to feel the passion and ambition of so many professionals who devote their time and effort to improving the health of infants worldwide. Through my work with the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin, I have met many people locally who are just as passionate in saving lives. It’s incredible to meet even more people who believe in the same mission, and see them work together and support each other in accomplishing big things for the smallest people.

Erin Hamilton Spence, Medical Director of Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas

Pauline Sakamoto, HMBANA President

Kimberly Seals Allers, award-winning journalist and nationally recognized media commentator, consultant and advocate for breastfeeding and infant health