Breastfeeding is nature’s amazing way to ensure food to a baby as soon as it enters the world. It is a very gratifying experience for the mother as well as the baby. Having said that, there many unfortunate situations due to which the baby is unable to get breast milk. In such times “Human milk bank” comes to the rescue. On the occasion of Breastfeeding week, ETV Bharat Sukhibhava spoke to Dr. Rajashree Katke, renowned Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, MD OBGY, FICOG, FMAS, Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ex Superintendent CAMA and ALBLESS Hospitals, Mumbai.
What is human milk banking?
It is a concept where mothers donate breast milk. This is preferred alternative for infant formula and helps in the healthy growth of the infant. The milk is collected by hand expression or by using breast pumps in willing mothers. This undergoes certain tests and is then stored or dispensed to the needy babies as per the requirement.
Who can donate human milk?
- Willing mothers who are tested and found negative for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
- Mothers with hemoglobin percentage of 10 gm or more and -who do not suffer from any serious medical condition.
Human milk bank at CAMA and Albless Hospital Mumbai.
From the time it was started in 2008, it has helped provide human milk to over 15261 needy babies, of which 6000 were needy babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
- Neonatal deaths and illnesses decreased and the duration of NICU stay for preterm and low birth weight infants increased. Infants are only discharged from the NICU once their weight is greater than 1.8 kg indicating increased survival of neonates.
What is the benefit of a human milk bank?
- Babies who are abandoned at birth or the mother died after giving birth.
- If the mother is suffering from a medical condition after delivery due to which she is unable to breastfeed.
- If the mother does not get enough breast milk.
- Babies admitted to the Neonatal intensive care unit.
- Babies who are adopted soon after they are born.
What does it take to set up a human milk bank in India?
When Cama Hospital started its milk bank, the cost of setting was approximately 300 000 rupees and the annual maintenance cost for running the milk bank is approximately 10 000 rupees excluding labor and electricity costs.
And for this minimal investment, every year over a 1000 needy babies are known to have benefitted from banked human milk.
Despite the minimal expenditure and immense benefits, there are very few milk banks across India. Furthermore, all are in the public sector and are attached to the government and teaching hospitals. Commercial milk banking, as seen in some states of the US is still a distant reality for India.
Milk banks are cost-effective to maintain, create job opportunities and have an immense cost-benefit
How do we create awareness about human milk donation?
Milk donation can be promoted by increasing women's education in India. However, even uneducated women can be motivated to donated breast milk, If the importance of breastfeeding is taught to women at a young age, & the practice of breastfeeding is inculcated into the social culture of the place
How to promote awareness:
- Motivation and encouragement to the donors and positive counseling to pregnant ladies and nursing mothers.
The creation of more human milk banks in India would be a beautiful way to celebrate International Breastfeeding week.
