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Know All About Human Milk Banking

human milk banking

It enables to reinforce the bond between the two of you when you breastfeed your child. All new mothers want to nurse their baby, but unfortunately, some mothers don’t have the chance to breastfeed their children. That’s where the Human Milk Banking comes in.

 

What Is Human Milk Banking?

A human milk bank is a hospital service or nursing homes that collect, searches and stores breast milk from healthy nursing mothers (who voluntarily donate milk) to satisfy babies who have nothing to do with their food requirements biologically. Some individuals call this milk ‘ liquid gold’ because it includes all the essential nutrients that a child requires for good growth and development.

 

When Do You Think Of Giving Your Baby Donated Milk?

In the following situations, you can consider choosing a breast milk donor:

  • If you experience low milk production and need to complement your own breast milk with breast milk from the donor.
  • Have a double mastectomy and are unable to produce enough breast milk.
  • If you are being treated with certain medicines that may interfere with breastfeeding.
  • When you have an infectious disease that can pass through breast milk to the baby.
  • If you foster or adopt babies.
  • You have had previous breast surgery that affects the production of your milk.
  • If your glandular tissue is insufficient and you need additional breast milk.

 

Who Make It Possible?

Milk donors are healthy, aware women who care about babies ‘ health. They most often nurse their own babies, have an extensive supply of milk, and donate their additional milk. They receive no payment or compensation for this generous act, except for the fulfillment that comes from knowing that they have helped enhance a fragile baby’s health.

 

Who Can Donate Milk?

After proper examination and approval by a doctor, a healthy lactating mother who tests negative for HIV and VDRL is not under any drugs and is free of any evidence of hepatitis can donate breast milk.

 

Process of Donating Breast Milk

A detailed process for becoming a donor of breast milk and donating milk is involved. It takes about 3-4 weeks to complete the process. Here’s the step-by-step breast milk donation process:

1. Check if you have excess milk:

The first and most significant thing to make sure is that you have enough milk to breastfeed your own child. You can only donate surplus milk after you have ensured your child is fully fed. The newly pumped breast milk or frozen milk gathered prior to the pumping process may be donated (up to ten months from the delivery date) provided the day, month and year are labeled.

2. Applying online and subsequent examination:

It differs from bank to bank, but generally, in order to become a donor of breast milk, you must first fill out an application form that contains a’ form for a medical history study’ together with a’ form for donation approval.’ Before donating blood, the former will have comparable concerns, including any prior history of a disease, accidents, and other information. Your request will be processed after which you will hear back from the Human Milk Bank about 5 days later.

3. Obtaining forms of medical confirmation:

As your breast milk is used to create dietary formulations for premature and seriously ill children, you will need a confirmation form signed by your doctor and the pediatrician of your baby to qualify as a donor. This is performed to guarantee the quality of your breast milk by confirming that both the child and the mother are healthy and that donating their surplus milk is okay for the family.

4. Testing of breast milk donors

A blood test will be arranged for you at the laboratory, where you will also be requested to offer a cheek swab to create a DNA profile. This is done so that the DNA in the milk will be matched against your DNA later when shipping your donated breast milk to ensure that you have been properly screened. This is the most significant move that guarantees the milk’s safety.

5. Labeling and maintaining records

The Human Milk Bank will provide you with comprehensive storage instructions for human milk banks as well as directions on how to collect breast milk. They will also supply storage bags for breast milk. You will then fill, freeze, package and label the donation once your application is qualified and send it to the respective bank.

6. The bank receives milk

Your donated milk will then be received at the bank where some tests will be carried out again and finally prepared for use as a life-saving option for critically ill infants.

 

Is Donated Breast Milk Safe for My Baby?

Human milk banks only pick prospective donors of breast milk after the strict screening, testing, and processing of the outcomes, comparable to the method used in blood banks. The donated milk is pasteurized after collection to kill any viruses or bacteria current in it. Pasteurization destroys much less of the useful characteristics of milk and retains 70 percent of the immunity that protects children from disease. So it’s totally secure.

 

Be sure to check with a doctor first if you are considering donating breast milk. If you’re considering purchasing for your little one donated milk, make sure you go to an accredited Human Milk Bank.

 

Also Read: Tips On Formula Milk Store For Your Baby

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