Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): As many as 750 newborns have benefited from the state's first and the city's only Human Milk Bank located at KN Katju Hospital in TT Nagar in the last year.
However, just 16% of lactating mothers admitted to the hospital donated their milk to the bank due to different myths and misconceptions, which is a matter of concern for the authorities.
The bank was shifted from the District JP Hospital to Katju Hospital in March 2024 as part of the decision to move the maternal and child care unit of JP Hospital to Katju Hospital.
It was established at JP Hospital in 2019 and was the first Human Milk Bank in the state.
It became fully functional only in August last year after its pasteurisation unit was operationalised.
In the past one year, 113 litres of milk were collected by the bank, of which 107 litres were distributed to 750 newborns including 110 pre-term babies.
Milk Bank incharge Dr Smita Saxena told Free Press that the collected milk was put through microbiological testing and pasteurised before it was stored at minus 20 degrees. "It can be safely used for up to six months.
All the lactating mothers admitted to the hospital with excess milk are counselled to donate milk. But very few agree, she added.
Human Milk Banks, technically known as Comprehensive Lactation Management Centres (CLMC), collect milk from nursing mothers using breast pumps, process and store it after pasteurisation, and dispense it to babies.
They serve a crucial purpose by providing mother's milk to infants whose mothers are no more or are unable to breastfeed their babies due to other reasons, such as not producing milk or producing it in insufficient quantities.
Donating milk does not cause any harm to mothers. In fact, it benefits them. Lactating mothers who are not admitted to the hospital are also welcome to donate.
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"There is a need to make lactating mothers aware that they can save lives of newborns and ensure that they get adequate nutrition by donating their milk."
- Dr Smita Saxena, incharge, CLMC, Katju Hospital
