Niloufer’s big plans for breast milk bank

In order to meet the demand for breast milk, the breast milk bank at Niloufer Hospital is attempting to launch fullfledged operations.

A Telangana-based NGO is responsible for the establishment of the bank, and volunteers of the organisation are attempting to break the stigma that surrounds the subject of breastfeeding. They conduct regular counselling sessions to ensure that the bank has a steady supply of breast milk.

Aditya K., a member of the organisation, says, “Mothers who want to contribute to the bank do so voluntarily. We choose donors of the basis of how far into the lactation process they are. We have been counselling mothers to ensure that there is enough milk in the bank once it launches operations on the scale that is planned.”

He says that under appropriate storage conditions, breast milk can be preserved for up to two months or more. “However, for the number of patients at Niloufer, we will need to constantly replenish the milk. We are storing the milk at temperatures between -18 and -20 degrees Celsius.”

While the breast milk bank has been receiving a substantial number of requests, mothers are apprehensive about using milk from other mothers to feed their children, and so they require counselling. People fail to realise that breast milk it is much healthier than a pre-mixed formula which could be adulterated.

Another member of the NGO says. “Niloufer Hospital has a large number of patients, many of whom undergo premature deliveries. In such cases, mothers have trouble lactating. This breast milk bank is a crucial initiative for us. We are trying to ensure that the benefits reach the masses. We want to be able to feed 600 babies as planned.”

Dr Murali Krishna, the Superintendent of Niloufer Hospital, says that he hopes to launch operations of the breast milk bank on a large scale soon. Hospital authorities claim that the bank is being managed solely by the NGO at present. However, members of the NGO say that after a few months of operation they hope to collaborate to a greater extent with the hospital authorities.

Mothers are apprehensive about using milk from other mothers to feed their children.