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Donor Milk: A Lifeline for Premature Babies
1 Aug
Summary
- Donor milk provides crucial nutrients and antibodies for vulnerable infants.
- Human milk banks screen and pasteurize milk for safe use.
- India has nearly 125 milk banks facing staffing and funding challenges.
For mothers of premature babies, the inability to breastfeed can heighten anxiety. Human milk banks serve as a vital resource, providing pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) for vulnerable newborns. This donor milk is rich in essential nutrients and antibodies, crucial for immune support and healthy development.
Evidence suggests PDHM can lower the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and support feeding tolerance in preterm infants. Human milk banks operate as organized health systems, ensuring safe donation, screening, and processing of milk to protect infants.
India operates nearly 125 milk banks, managed by government, hospitals, and NGOs, to meet the demand for donor milk. However, these facilities face significant challenges including staffing shortages, funding gaps, and inadequate data systems.
Access to donor milk should not be dependent on a baby's birthplace. Strengthening these systems requires trained personnel, better infrastructure, robust quality control, and increased awareness among mothers and families about the safety and benefits of milk donation, akin to blood donation.
