By Laura Johnstone
Today feels like a really important day. I’m meeting with a prematurity charity that I’ve supported and admired for a long time. It’s one of those moments where everything you’ve been through—personally and as a parent—starts to come full circle. I’m meeting with them to explore how we can support each other, and more importantly, how together we can support more families.
As many of you know, I’ve launched a new initiative called Pumping for Preemies, which is deeply personal to me. I’ve lived the chaos and the fragility of NICU life. I know the fear, the exhaustion, and the overwhelming sense of not knowing how to help your baby when they arrive far too early. One of the few things you can do is provide breastmilk. But what happens when expressing milk is difficult? Or when a mum is recovering from a traumatic birth or dealing with her own medical complications? That’s where support—and access to donor milk—becomes vital.
That’s why I’m also starting to work on a campaign to promote breastmilk donation for premature babies. There are so many incredible people out there willing to donate, and yet there’s a gap between need and access. For the tiniest, most vulnerable babies, donor milk can literally be life-saving.
This meeting today is more than just a chat. It’s about creating change, building bridges between lived experience and practical support. I believe that by partnering with like-minded organisations, we can make a real difference. Whether it’s raising awareness about the importance of breastmilk for premature babies, advocating for more accessible milk banks, or providing emotional support for parents who are expressing around the clock—it all matters.
And for those of you who’ve been following my journey, you’ll know this is also about honouring my daughter Amelia’s early start in life. Her strength is my fuel. Every time I speak up, share, or advocate, it’s with her in mind—and for every other baby and parent still in that neonatal world.
So today, I go into this meeting with hope. Hope that by sharing ideas, by collaborating, we can grow something powerful. Because together, we can build a more compassionate, supportive system for parents of premature babies.
If you’ve ever expressed milk, donated, or benefited from donor milk, I’d love to hear your story. Sharing these experiences helps break down stigma and shine a light on just how important this is.
Let’s keep the conversation going—please like, comment, and subscribe to my blog to stay updated on the Pumping for Preemies campaign and more ways we can support each other.
References & Further Reading:
NHS: Human Milk Banking BLISS: Breastfeeding and Expressing UKAMB – The UK Association for Milk Banking
The bad and your parenting journey 