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Importance of breast milk

Mother’s milk is considered the best and safest food for newborn babies. The nutrients and antibodies present in it strengthen the child’s immunity and protect them from infections. However, some mothers are not able to breastfeed their babies adequately due to health problems, premature delivery or other reasons. In such a situation, breast milk donation proves to be a boon for many newborns.

Contribution of Jwala Gutta

Badminton player Jwala Gutta has donated 60 liters of breast milk in a year and has appealed to other women to come forward in this direction. It is important to know which women can donate breast milk and how it can be kept safe. We discussed this topic with Dr. Chetna Jain, gynecologist at Cloudnine Hospital, Gurgaon.

Who can donate breast milk?

Healthy lactating women, who have sufficient amount of milk in their body, can donate breast milk. There are some necessary conditions for this:

• The woman should be completely healthy.
• Do not have any serious infection or infectious disease.
• The test for diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis should be negative.
• Do not smoke, consume alcohol or intoxicants.
• Are not taking medicines banned by the doctor.
• Generally, if the age of the child is less than 6 months, the quality of milk is considered better.
• Milk is accepted only after medical history and blood test of the donor mother.

Breast milk donation process

Before donating breast milk, it is important to take care of hygiene and safety.

Some important points:

• Hand hygiene: Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before expressing milk.
• Breast pump cleaning: Clean all parts of the pump with warm water and soap every time.
• Using the Right Container: Store milk only in sterilized and food-grade containers.
• Write expiry and storage time: It is important to write the date and time of milking on the container.
• Do not donate during illness: Milk should not be donated if the mother has fever or infection.
• Eat a balanced diet: The donor mother should take nutritious food and adequate water.

For how many days can you store breast milk?

Storing breast milk at the correct temperature is essential to maintain its safety and quality.

General Storage Guidelines:

• Room temperature (up to 25°C): about 4 hours
• Refrigerator (4°C): 3–4 days
• Freezer (-18°C or lower): Safe for about 6 months
• Deep Freezer: Up to 6–12 months

Breast milk donation process

Many hospitals and human milk banks in India are promoting breast milk donation. The process generally goes like this:

1. registration: The donor mother has to get registered with the milk bank or hospital.
2. Health Screening: The mother’s medical history is taken and some blood tests are done.
3. Milking: The mother can express milk in a hygienic manner at home or in the hospital.
4. Storage and Transport: Milk is stored at the right temperature and transported to the milk bank.
5. Pasteurization: Milk is pasteurized in milk banks.

Importance of breast milk donation

Breast milk donation can prove to be lifesaving for premature babies. It reduces the risk of infections and stomach diseases and strengthens the immunity of the newborn.

conclusion: Breast milk donation is a sensitive initiative that helps many newborn babies to have a healthy life.