Article: Mothers forced to send breast milk by mail

Sick premature babies shunted around the country due to hospital overcrowding and staff shortages

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Deidre Mussen

INCREASING numbers of vulnerable premature babies are being shunted around the country because there is no room in hospitals.

One stretched Auckland hospital has even considered sending newborns to Australia in its search for hospitals to take the 20 mothers and babies it is transferring each month.

Hospital staff say the transfers cause stress to families, put babies' health at risk and can affect breastfeeding.

In one case, an Auckland mother had to courier her breast milk to Wellington after her premature twins were transferred because of hospital ...

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