Human Milk Banks – An Increasing Importance
Mrs. Jennifer Jothi Mary A.
Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, SRIPMS, New Siddhapudur, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641044
*Corresponding Author’s Email: jenniferjothimary@yahoo.co.in
ABSTRACT:
Human milk as the primary source of nutrition for infants has received increased support over the past decade from both International and National groups. Banked human milk is regarded as “the next best” after the biological mother’s breast milk. A human milk bank is a service established for collecting, screening, processing, storing and distributing donated human milk. It is used mainly in vulnerable infants who admitted in NICU’s where their mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient. Feeding these infants with breast milk can significantly reduce infections. According to DD health vital Statistics 2013-2014, birth rate in Coimbatore 15.9, and infant mortality rate was 6.24.Coimbatore faces its own unique challenges, having highest number of infant mortality. Hence the Government , Health experts and the Civil society must join hands to propagate the concept of human milk banking for the sake of vulnerable infants. This analysis was carried out to identify the current status of human milk banks and the need of initiating several human milk banks in the city.
KEYWORDS: Human Milk, Bank, Infants, Statistics, Requirements, Setting Up, Donors
INTRODUCTION:
Every mother should be encouraged to breast feed their babies as it is the best method of infant feeding. But if her milk is insufficient or unavailable the next best option is pasteurized donor human milk. Banked human milk is regarded as “the next best” after the biological mother’s breast milk as stated by WHO. The number of Human milk banks has grown to nearly 14 all over India but the growth has reduced.
Around 1970’s the need for human milk had lost its interest due to heavy promotion of infant formula. Studies have found that breast milk has a protective effect against necrotizing enterocolitis. A study by Lucas and Cole found that NEC was 6-10 times more likely to develop in exclusively formula fed infants than in those fed by only breast milk. [Jan K , 2011]
Thus keeping in mind the complications associated, it is very much necessary to establish human milk banks in all health centres. The authors main objective is to identify the ways to promote human milk banks with appropriate setup and facilities in the city hospitals in Coimbatore.
PRESENT SCENARIO:
· In India , very few places milk banks are available.
· According to DD health vital Statistics 2013-2014, birth rate in Coimbatore 15.9, and infant mortality rate was 6.24.
· Coimbatore faces its own unique challenges, having highest number of infant mortality.
· A mother’s milk bank was inaugurated during August 2015 in CMCH and is successfully running in the city.
· There is a growing need of creating many more milk banks for the benefit of our growing young population.
EQUIPMENTS:
· Pasteurizer/ shaker water bath – heat treatment of donor milk at 62.5 degree C for 30 minutes.
· Deep freezer – store milk at -20degree C
· Refrigerators – store milk for whole day’s collection and for thawing the milk before dispatch
· Hot air oven / autoclave – sterilize containers used for collection, pasteurization
· Breast milk pumps – electric pumps or manual operated Containers –for collecting and storing milk
· Generator /uninterrupted power supply – to run deep freezers and refrigerators
· Milk analyzer –macronutrient analysis of milk [Ketan. B, et.al ,2014]
INFRASTRUCTURE:
THE WORKING STRATERGY:
· Create donor groups
· Awareness through mass media
· Establish more human milk banks
STAFF REQUIREMENT:
Who can develop a milk bank?
· Panel of consultants like representatives from areas of pediatrics, neonatology , lactation, microbiology , nutrition, public health and food technology.
· Director – planning, implementing and evaluating services
· Milk bank officer- doctor for day to day running and training
· Lactation management nurses-counseling mothers and assisting in expression of breast milk
· Milk bank technician – pasteurization of breast milk and microbiological surveillance.
· Milk bank attendant- collecting, sterilizing containers and maintaining hygiene
· Receptionist – record keeping and public relations [Arslanoglu S and Moro GE et al,2013]
STEPS INVOLVED:
TRAIN STAFF TO:
1 Adhere to standard operating procedures
2 Maintain hygienic practices
3 Wear gloves and change between handling milk
4 Undergo regular health checks and be immunized against Hep B
5 Have an ongoing training programme [Arslanoglu S and Moro GE et al, 2013]
CONCLUSION:
· Donor milk banks play an important role in providing ideal nourishment for high risk and preterm infants.
· Due to the prevalence of high rate of preterm babies, there is an urgent need to establish milk banks across the city especially in large neonatal units of all hospitals.
· In order to ensure a safe supply of breast milk for all infants, regulated milk banking is the safest means of doing this.
REFERENCES:
1 Ketan B, Satish T, Sudhir M, Kanya M, Balraj Y, et al. For the infant and young child feeding chapter, Indian Academy of pediatrics.2014;51:469-474.
2 Jan K and Laraine L. The increasing importance of human milk banks, The e -Journal of neonatology Research .2011;1-3:118-124.
3 Arslanoglu S, Moro GE , et al, Sence of human milk bank is associated with elevated rate of exclusive breast feeding in VLBW infants. Journal of Perinatal Medicine.2013;41:129-131.
Received on 24.08.2016 Modified on 16.09.2016
Accepted on 21.09.2016 © A&V Publication all right reserved
Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management. 2016; 4(3): 299-300.
DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2016.00066.4