Human milk banks: Evolution of wet nursing: Reducing neonatal mortality

Abstract

Human milk is acquired from lactating donors in human milk banks. The donated breast milk is collected using the proper techniques, examined for contamination and microbiological load, pasteurized using various procedures, and then stored so that it can be made available on demand to neonates who are unable to get human breast milk for whatever reason. Wet nurses, also known as dhatris, were employed in both ancient India and the rest of the globe to provide breast milk for the infants. The issue of VLBW (Very Low Birth Weight) and LBW (Low Birth Weight) mortality affects India and many other developing nations, but it can be resolved by promoting breastfeeding, which also dramatically lowers the risk of infections. Thus, in order to promote the idea of milk banking for the benefit of thousands of people, health specialists and regular people must work together. Since 1909, the year the second human milk bank opened in Boston after the first one founded in Vienna. In 1989, Mumbai's Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital established India's first human milk bank. In comparison to the rising number of neonatal critical care units, the number has climbed to 90, although it is still quite low. Every larger hospital with post-natal wards or Well Baby clinics, where there are more milk donors accessible and the medical or nursing staff can encourage them to donate milk, has to set up milk banks. Efforts made by the government or non-governmental groups to promote and maintain human milk banks will lessen the likelihood that breast milk will become spoiled and infant mortality will increase.