"Paying it Forward" - Swedish Women's Experiences of Donating Human Milk.
Emma Olsson, Barbro Diderholm, Ylva Thernström Blomqvist
PMID 33275499WHAT IT FOUND
Swedish donors described human milk donation as a demanding task, citing time spent expressing, strict hygiene rules, and physical strain.
Most participants struggled to find clear information on how to donate and felt unsupported by healthcare staff. Altruism and a desire to help infants sustained them through these challenges.
Key findings
01Donors experienced the process as time-consuming and physically demanding, requiring them to juggle breastfeeding, expressing, and household chores.
02A major barrier was the lack of accessible information on how to donate and insufficient support from healthcare staff, who often lacked knowledge of the process.
03Altruism and a strong desire to help infants were the primary motivators for continuing to donate, despite the practical and physical challenges.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used a questionnaire that had not been validated beyond face validity. The sample was culturally specific to Sweden, where breastfeeding rates are high and parental leave is extensive, limiting generalizability to other contexts. The response rate of 69% may have introduced selection bias, as women who chose to donate might be more engaged in the topic. Anonymity requirements prevented the researchers from linking specific responses to the two different hospitals, which had different donation requirements (e.g., a minimum volume).
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Gillberg Foundation, Crown Princess Lovisa’s association, and The Birth Fund.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that financial compensation is the primary driver for donation. Most participants stated they would have donated without payment, and the main motivator was altruism. Focusing on monetary incentives rather than improving information access and staff support may misidentify the key barriers to donation.