Human Milk Bank

• What..??
  Human milk banks provide safe breast milk to infants in emergency situations, such as those who are affected by disasters, are critically ill or born prematurely.
• Why..??
  Breast milk provides all the nourishment that infants need in their first six months of life.
• Importance..??
  It’s critical that newborns must be exclusively breastfed (i.e. feeding them only breast milk, not even water, during the first six months) to give them a healthy start in life. 

Any Data to prove the need

• Research consistently proves the benefits of breastmilk for all babies – it is undisputedly the ideal food for babies.
• Sometimes though, a mother is not able to provide the breastmilk her baby needs – and what alternative is used matters.
• This is true for all babies, but for very premature, low birth weight babies the use of anything other than breastmilk in those critical first few weeks or months can have potentially fatal consequences.
• This is where Milk Banks are needed, a breastmilk bank, can step in to provide a safe alternative – donor breastmilk: a life-saving option for many premature babies.
• According to a 2017 report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, only 34% of children under six months in the Philippines are exclusively breastfed. 
  Source: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/how-human-milk-bank-works
  
  Why in Shivamogga
   
• Our stats from Sarji Hospital in Shivamogga says
  for Premature Babies included the factors resulting in premature births such as young or advanced maternal age, low maternal body mass index, short inter-pregnancy intervals, pre-existing non-communicable disease and increasing psychological stress.

As per above Statistics yearly Approximately 1500 baby's we will receive in shivamogga district hence for these preterm baby's we are in necessity of this Human Milk bank    
 

• Steps we follow.
  
  Source of the Milk
  Storage
  Serve it for needy.

Sources for Milk

• Human milk banks rely on breast milk donations from lactating women. 
• A nurse screens, counsels and informs interested mothers about the process and purpose of donating their breast milk. 

How milk is collected..??

• Breast milk is collected from donors using manual methods or breast pumps, with assistance from human milk bank staff.
• We prefer using breast pumps for the safety and ease of donors/mothers.

Storage ..??

• Raw breast milk that has been collected is stored in a freezer. Each container is labeled with complete details such as the donor’s name, date and time of collection, and the amount of breast milk collected. 
• Will be sent for pasteurization process.

Pasteurization..!! What’s the Process..??

• To prepare breast milk for pasteurization, it is first thawed in a refrigerator overnight. 
• Breast milk from multiple donors is then pooled under a laminar flow hood, a ventilation device that controls the circulation of filtered air to prevent contamination while milk is being transferred to new containers. 
• Each batch of breast milk is pasteurized at 62.5°C for 30 minutes. 
• Pasteurization kills bacteria, virus and other microorganisms, and extends the shelf life of breast milk. 
• Samples from each batch are sent to the hospital laboratory before and after pasteurization for microbiological testing to ensure safety and quality. 
• Pasteurized milk is then stored in a freezer at -20°C. 

Anyone can take Milk from here..??

• To get breast milk from the milk bank, recipients need to present a doctor’s prescription, fill out required forms, and pay a minimal fee to help sustain milk bank operations.

Expiry for Milk..??

• Frozen pasteurized breast milk is placed in a cooler with ice or gel freeze packs to maintain its temperature while in transit. Once thawed, the milk must be consumed within 24 hours. 

Equipment's required..??

Final Note:

• Human milk banks ensure that infants in emergency situations receive breast milk
• We urge to join your hands to free premature born babies to provide a healthy and nutritious food and make the baby healthy.