Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, June 30: The Rotary Amruth – Human Milk Bank, established three years ago at the Government Lady Goschen Hospital, has emerged as a vital lifeline for saving premature infants and reducing infant mortality.

Launched in March 2022 as a humanitarian initiative by the Rotary Club of Mangalore, the milk bank was set up with funding of Rs 35 lac. Since its inception, the facility has collected 508 litres of milk donated by 8,265 mothers. This pasteurized donor milk has been provided to 366 newborns in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“When a baby is born prematurely—say in the sixth or seventh month—the mother is often unable to produce milk. In such cases, human breast milk becomes a blessing as it contains all the essential nutrients required for the baby's development. The organs of preterm babies, including the heart, lungs, and intestines, are underdeveloped, and feeding them breast milk supports better growth,” explains neonatologist Dr Lakshmi Kamat.

“Premature infants are at risk of NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), a serious intestinal condition. Natural breast milk offers protection against this. Since the establishment of the milk bank, there has been no spike in NEC cases. The bank has also helped prevent ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) and BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia). This facility is truly a godsend for our NICU,” she adds.

The thick, yellowish milk secreted during the first three days after childbirth—known as colostrum—is regarded as nature’s first vaccine. Since some donated milk includes colostrum, it contributes significantly to strengthening the baby's immunity and development.

One such example is a preterm baby born at 27 weeks, weighing just 718 grams, who survived with the help of donor milk from the bank. “These are the kinds of miracles made possible by a human milk bank,” Dr Kamat notes. Mothers with surplus breast milk also express a sense of fulfilment in helping other mothers and their newborns.

Milk donation process

Some mothers experience discomfort due to excess breast milk and, upon medical consultation, express willingness to donate. After a detailed counselling session, they are referred to the milk bank.

The medical team verifies the delivery record (K-sheet) and the mother's health reports. Only mothers who are in good health and have tested negative for HIV, HBsAg, VDRL, and HCV are eligible to donate, says Bhavya, the coordinator of the milk bank.

Donor milk can be stored at -20°C for up to three months. After pasteurization, it can be preserved for six months from the date of collection. All pasteurized milk undergoes culture testing, and only after lab-certified clearance is it administered to infants in the NICU.