MILK BANK

Breast milk feeding of babies by lactating mothers is gaining in popularity and so is use of milk banks.

Use of donor milk from milk bank

Human milk may be obtained from milk bank in case of mothers unable to feed the baby. In case of premature babies, the quantity of nutrients in breast milk may not meet the great nutrient needs.

Donor pasteurized human milk may serve as a useful proxy for the mother's own milk. Human milk supplements, or fortifiers, may be used to supplement the nutrient content of unfortified breast milk. Host defense benefits are also observed in such situations.

Milk bank guidelines

In order to maximize benefits and minimize risks of donated milk from milk banks, strict guidelines have been set forth by the Human Milk Bank of North America. These include the following:

• Screening of donors of milk by clinical history and blood tests to exclude HIV, hepatitis B and C, HTLV and syphillis.
• Milk is collected, pooled and pasteurized.
• Creamatocrit is also performed to determine the calorie/nutrient content.

Pasteurization of donor milk results in killing of several viruses with only a limited impact on antibodies, growth factors, lysozyme etc. However, microwaving does significantly destroy the anti-infective components in the milk.

Note that no GVHD (graft versus host disease) occurs as a result of milk therapy.

What do you think about milk banks? Would you use it for your child if the physician recommended?

Comments

[Awesome Mom]

I would if it was recommended. I even considered donating to a milk bank but ended up getting pregnant again before I could follow up on the thought

[Shinga]

Given appropriate application of the guidelines? Yes, if a physician recommended it then I would accept it.