Bikers make express delivery of breast milk for bub
Tuesday 13 August 2024
A team of bikers have completed what could be Queensland’s longest-ever milk run – and
ensured a Hervey Bay baby gets the nourishment she needs to thrive.
Four big-hearted bikers worked as a relay team to transport breast milk 300km from Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane to the home of new mum Danielle and her baby daughter, Autumn.
Danielle was just 27 weeks’ pregnant when doctors detected a problem with her baby and she was airlifted from Wide Bay to Brisbane by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Autumn was delivered in an emergency caesarean and transferred to Mater’s Neonatal Critical
Care Unit, where she spent the first 100 days of her life.
Because of Autumn’s medical condition, Danielle (33) was unable to breastfeed her and instead
stored 7.5 litres of expressed breastmilk at Mater Mothers’ Hospital – hoping that one day she could bottle-feed the nutrient-rich milk to her baby girl.
Last month Peter Davis, founder of Bloodbikes Australia, pulled on his leathers to take the frozen
milk on the first leg of its from South Brisbane to Danielle’s Wide Bay home.
He founded Bloodbikes Australia five years ago to support Mater Pathology blood deliveries and
today the group has 350 volunteer bikers across Australia.
“I can’t thank Bloodbikes Australia enough for what they have done for Autumn,” Danielle said.
“It was tough to keep expressing milk while Autumn was in NCCU, but it was something that I
wanted to do for her as a mum.
“My milk supply has now fallen off a little so being able to use my stored milk has been a huge
relief.”
Bloodbikes Australia now supports 63 healthcare providers across every Australian state, but Mr
Davis said the group would always have a special bond with Mater.
“Mater is where Bloodbikes Australia began and we work closely with the pathology and clinical
teams across the whole of Mater,” Mr Davis said.
“We deliver blood, medicines and medical equipment to sites across South-East Queensland – but
we have never delivered milk before!
“It’s a first for us and with more than 10,000 babies born at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals every year there’s potential for many more milk runs like this.
“We’re so happy we could help Danielle, Autumn and the whole NCCU team.”
Danielle said Autumn was doing well at home after leaving hospital eight weeks ago.
Her daughter was only a few days old when she was diagnosed with Jejunal Atresia, a condition
which totally obstructed her bowel and left her unable to feed.
She weighed just 877g when she underwent the first of two surgeries to create a stoma, allowing
her to feed properly for the first time and gain precious weight.
“We are both doing really well now,” Danielle said.
“Autumn is a definite talker and has lot of facial expressions. I am so thankful to the care and
support I received from the Mater Mothers’ team.”
NCCU Nurse Unit Manager Melody Emerson said it was wonderful to know Autumn was finally
getting the milk she missed while she had struggled to feed.
“Danielle did a really good job at keeping up her milk supply when Autumn was too unwell to
feed,” Ms Emerson said.
“It is great to see that milk being used now and Autumn is doing well”.
“This was the first time we have utilised the Bloodbikes service to support the return of frozen milk to
a NCCU baby and the motorcycle team did a great job.
“We’re so grateful to Peter and his colleagues for helping Mater mums and babies in need.”