Poland

A milk bank was founded in 1989 in Lodz but despite increasing activity during the years 1991 to 1995, it closed in the late 90’s. However the organization and activity of this bank are described by Dr Bogumila Penc in the Journal of Human Lactation Vol 12, no 3 1996 pages 243 – 246. Since that time there were no established donor milk banks in Poland until 2012 when as a result of the determined efforts of a small group led by Aleksandra Wesolowska a new bank was established in Warsaw with others following in 2013.

Currently there are 15 milk banks affiliated to the Human Milk Bank Foundation, building a constantly growing network of milk banks in Poland. Currently there are milk banks operating in cities of Warsaw (2 banks), Torun, Wroclaw, Cracow, Opole, Ruda Slaska, Poznan, Szczecin, Gdynia, Gdańsk, Łodz and two milk banks in Rzeszow.

Thanks to the work and the consistent efforts of Dr Aleksandra Wesolowska and her Foundation there is an increasing awareness and interest in Poland regarding the topics of human breast milk and natural baby feeding, both in the communities of mothers and scientists.