How to Safely Donate and Receive Donated Breast Milk in India

In India, the demand for breast milk supersedes the supply of donated breast milk. Therefore, donated breast milk is only available by prescription of a registered medical practitioner to manage the gap between demand and supply. Donated breast milk is primarily given to sick and premature babies in NICU. You cannot buy breast milk in India.

The first breast milk bank was established on 27 November 1989 at Sion Hospital, Mumbai. It was also the first breast milk bank in Asia. Presently, India has about 30 breast milk banks across the country.

Who is Eligible to Receive Breast Milk in India?

In India, donated breast milk is given on a priority basis to the following babies:

• Preterm babies

• Sick babies in NICU

• Babies of mothers who have postpartum illnesses

• Babies with mothers who have lactation failures

• Multiple birth babies who do not get sufficient breast milk from the biological mother

• Abandoned neonates

• Infants who are at health risk from the biological mother

• An infant whose mother died immediately after giving birth

Who Can Donate Milk?

Donating excess breast milk does not compromise the health of your biological baby. A lactating mother who is willing to donate excess breast milk can donate after fulfilling the following conditions:

• She is willing to undergo blood testing for screening for infections

• She does not consume illegal drugs, nicotine, tobacco products, and alcohol

• She or her partner is not HIV positive

• She or her partner does not suffer from Hepatitis, Syphilis, or any other venereal disease

• Has not undergone any organ transplant in the last 12 months

• Does not have breast or mammary infection

• Is not on any radioactive medicine

Steps to Donate Breast Milk

• Fill up the online registration form

• Go through the screening process

• Express your milk manually or using a breast pump

• Immediately freeze the collected milk in disposable bags specifically designed for breast milk

• Properly label it with the date of expression

• Transport it to the milk bank using ice packs

Breast milk is better than formula. Sick babies do not suffer from malnutrition if fed donated breast milk. There is an urgent need for breast milk donors in the country. If you are a lactating mother you can donate your excess milk and help a baby.