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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 3 January 2020

A Milk bank is as the name denotes a bank for human milk. This bank is a facility where breast milk donated by nursing women is screened, processed and stored. It is then utilized for babies who are unable to avail milk from their biological mother. Many new mothers find it difficult to lactate owing to various health challenges or preterm delivery. Some mothers may have illnesses or infections that can be passed down to the baby via their own breast milk. In such cases, when the mother’s milk is insufficient or unavailable, milk can be sourced from a breast milk bank.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mother’s milk is most critical for babies to build immunity and better health. In India alone, 13% of all babies born are preterm and have low birth weight. Breast milk then becomes crucial for the baby’s survival a need not fulfilled by formula milk. Even though milk from a Milk bank is heated and pasteurized, it is more beneficial than any product available in the market. Premature babies and babies in NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) are usually the ones in dire need of breast milk to aid development and fight infections.

Make sure you consult a doctor before opting for banked milk. If you are lactating and wish to help out a baby by donating breast milk, look for a milk bank in your city.

Here is a listing of India’s major Milk Banks:

Amaara, Bangalore and Delhi 

KEM hospital, Mumbai 

Lokmanya Tilak or Sion Hospital, Mumbai

B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai

Divya Mother Milk Bank, Udaipur 

If you would like to add another milk bank or any other resource, leave a comment or email to us at editor@patientsengage.com
 

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