The Lifeline of Donor Human Milk: Understanding Human Milk Banking in India and Future Prospects

Abstract

Human milk banking, also known as breast milk banking or lactarium, is a vital service that collects, screens, processes, pasteurizes, and dispenses donated human milk to infants who cannot receive their mother's milk. When a mother’s milk is unavailable, donor human milk is the best alternative for babies who are born premature and low birth weight. Donor human milk acts as a lifeline for infants who can’t receive their mother’s milk. This practice plays a crucial role in providing optimal nutrition and crucial health benefits, particularly for premature, sick, and vulnerable newborns. Growing recognition of the benefits of donor human milk has led to increasing global interest in creating and sustaining human milk banks to fulfill the need for donor human milk. This article will focus on the basics of Human Milk Banking and it’s continuously evolving areas of interest.