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Mumbai: Human Milk Banking is need of the hour, says Doctor

Over 94 litres of milk collected in the past six months at BYL Nair Hospital’s Human Milk Bank

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There are times when a mother is unable to nurse her newborn baby. Looking at such instances, the Human Milk Bank (HMB) was started at BYL Nair Hospital six months ago. More than 200 mothers have voluntarily donated their breast milk at the hospital, which has helped around 105 newborn babies, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) ward of the hospital. Around 97 per cent of the benefited babies have been discharged.

Till date, over 94 litres of milk has been collected. The hospital saw an increase in collection from 14 litres to 25 litres in the past six months. On an average, up to 750 ml of human milk is collected daily.

Speaking about the benefits and the need for such a bank, Dr Sushma Malik, Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics and in-charge of HMB, said: "Human Milk Banking is the need of the hour. Breastfeeding is optimal, safe, inexpensive, natural, immunological best, easily accessible and the ideal source of nutrition."

Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition to the baby and a donor's human milk is the second best choice for a baby, directly after the mother's own milk.

While the HMB will complete six months on August 14, it has helped on an average five babies per day. The newborn babies who benefit from the milk bank include — preterm babies, low birthweight babies and babies whose mother are admitted to MICU or have died, and critically ill babies.

The breast milk is collected from the mothers, who have recently delivered a child, from the post-natal wards and from mothers whose babies are in the neonatal intensive care unit and from breastfeeding mothers in the OPDs. The mothers can donate till they are breastfeeding their babies. The mothers have to voluntarily donate it. These mothers undergo a clinical and laboratory investigation before the donation, and they have to sign a consent form, added Dr Malik.

LIFE SAVER

It was started at Nair Hospital by MCGM, with the support of M/s Jewelex India

Human milk can be frozen for approximately 6 months

Who can donate human milk?

Breastfeeding mothers (voluntary donation)

WITHIN SIX MONTHS

200 Mothers have voluntarily donated their milk

Over 100 babies benefited from the initiative

94 litres (94000 ml) of human milk has been approximately collected

78 litres (78000ml) of human milk has been approximately dispensed

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