A MOTHER who lost her premature baby has appealed to more mums to donate breast milk, saying it helped prolong her daughter’s life.

Amy-Louise Walker gave birth to Akemi Truby in November, 12 weeks prematurely.

The baby was kept in an incubator at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital but died when her small intestine failed on New Year’s Day. She was just 52 days old.

Miss Walker, from Ayres Drive, Bloxham, near Banbury, said: “When she was born she was doing really well. She was anaemic, but she was breathing and growing.

“I couldn’t breast-feed any more due to me being so far away from her. When she was on donated milk she was fine. She was putting on weight.

I want more mothers to be more aware of how much they can help if they donate breast milk.

It really helped my daughter.”

The 20-year-old, and her partner Germaine Truby, 29, had Akemi christened in her final hours, before making the decision to turn off her ventilator.

She said: “I did bond with her. I was proud of how strong she was. She was my beautiful girl and always will be.”

Hospital spokesman Heather Barnett said: “Premature babies really benefit from breast milk; it’s the best nourishment for them.”

The hospital last year used 436 litres of milk donated from 130 women. The hospital collects milk in bottles supplied to donors.

To donate breast milk or for more information call the Human Milk Bank Organiser at the John Radcliffe Hospital on 01865 221695 or email sally.inch@orh.nhs.uk