Introduction
Breast milk is the first and ideal food for a baby, uniquely tailored to meet their needs. Packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, it supports growth, builds immunity, and protects against infections, making it a vital factor in a baby’s optimal development.
However, breastfeeding is a unique journey for every mother, often accompanied by challenges. Some mothers may experience an oversupply, leading to engorgement, lumps, or milk leakage, while others face low supply, resulting in reliance on formula, guilt, or emotional distress. Low supply can occur due to infrequent feeding, latching issues, or conditions like having fewer lactiferous glands or delivering prematurely.
Premature births pose unique challenges. In 2020, India recorded the highest number of preterm births globally, with 3.02 million cases according to The Lancet.1 Preterm babies often stay in NICUs, delaying lactation signals in mothers and creating a gap between the baby’s nutritional needs and available milk.
Breast milk donation becomes crucial in such scenarios. Mothers with excess milk can donate, preventing complications for themselves while saving vulnerable preterm babies in need. This act of generosity bridges the gap, offering lifesaving nutrition to the most fragile infants.
A Mother's Experience
Nisha’s(name changed for privacy purposes) journey as a mother has been both challenging and inspiring. After giving birth to her baby boy in January 2023, she faced the difficulty of having her baby in the NICU for a few days due to being born in the late preterm period. Like any mother, Nisha longed to hold and feed her baby, but the situation made that impossible. At the time, her baby had to rely on formula feed, as Nisha experienced delayed lactation and couldn’t provide breast milk.
However, Nisha turned this challenging experience into a mission. From that moment, she vowed that if she ever had the chance, she would donate her excess breast milk to help other babies in need. Despite her determination, finding a milk bank nearby was difficult. Many were located far from her, and the logistics of milk pickup were a challenge for Nisha, who wasn’t in a position to go out and deliver the milk herself.
After four months of searching, Nisha finally found Save Babies through Facebook. She quickly registered with them, and immediately received a call. The donation process began right away, and Nisha felt immense satisfaction in knowing that her milk could help babies in need. She hopes that her donation brings comfort to a mother somewhere, reassuring her that her baby will have access to the life-saving breast milk and recover quickly. Nisha’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and kindness, showing how one mother’s struggles can lead to a beautiful act of support for other families.
Finding a Milk Bank
India has more than 90 milk banks as of 2021.2 This number is rising quickly and aids in the support of needy premature babies. If any breastfeeding mother has excess milk after feeding her child and would like to donate, she might look for any nearby milk banks.
But each mother may have different needs. While some people would find door-to-door service appropriate, others might feel more at ease coming to the milk bank and making a donation there. A mother may contact Save Babies, an initiative of Neolacta Lifesciences, if she is unable to locate a milk bank in her area. They offer door-to-door service for pick-ups, and their procedure is set up so that everything may happen from the comfort of their own home.
Emotional Attachment to Donated Breast Milk
Breast milk is also referred to as “Liquid Gold” since it comes only to those who give birth and have tremendous nutrition which can protect and helping the infant grow. The healing power is immense since it is also provided to the baby with an abundance of love. So, often when mothers contribute their excess milk, there is an emotional attachment, because they know the power of breast milk and the benefits it offers. There is also a lot of effort and sweat which goes into the process of expressing breast milk.
Giving milk was more than just a way for Nisha to provide sustenance; it was also a way for her to support other moms. Somewhere, she thought, a mother clutching her infant in the intensive care unit could rest easy knowing that her child had access to the life-saving properties of breast milk. She wanted her activities to provide families in similar circumstances hope and reassurance because she was aware of the anxiety and powerlessness of those early days.
Chhalenges During Breast Milk Donation
Physical Challenges – The mother may become exhausted throughout the difficult and time-consuming procedure of extracting and storing milk for donation. To prevent breastmilk contamination, it is important to wash and sterilise pumping equipment in addition to expressing and breastfeeding. If the right procedures are not followed when preserving the expressed breast milk, the breast milk may also deteriorate.
Emotional Challenges – Donating breast milk can be emotionally draining for many women. For them it is not just breast milk, it is their love which they have to part ways with. There can also be a concern that her milk won’t be sufficient for her child. There may be occasions when the infant needs extra breast milk as they become older. A mother may become conflicted during these moments. In addition to all of this, women are balancing the obligations of motherhood to their families. The mother may suffer emotionally as a result of this.
Throughout her journey, a mother may encounter numerous obstacles, but she can overcome these challenges with the support of a few tiny items. Making a routine and asking for help from family and a partner can help the process go more smoothly. Practicing self-compassion and acknowledging minor victories will support the preservation of emotional well-being during the donation process.
Impact of Breast Milk Donation
Breast milk donation gives a sense of purpose and connection. Mothers who donate breast milk often feel a deep sense of purpose, knowing their contribution supports a vital cause. Over time, this feeling evolves into a profound emotional fulfillment, driven by the knowledge that their milk has helped save lives. Donating breast milk allows mothers to transform their surplus into something incredibly meaningful. This act of giving fosters a sense of empowerment and pride, creating lasting positive emotions.
Healing Through Generosity
Giving milk can be a healing experience for many moms, particularly those who have experienced difficulties with loss, lactation or NICU stays. It enables them to turn traumatic experiences into a legacy of hope by channeling past hardships into a deed of kindness. Knowing that their milk might support the growth of other babies can be comforting to mothers who may have lost a child or struggled with breastfeeding. Mothers might reflect on their contributions with pride even years later, knowing that they helped other families in their hour of need.
The immediate benefits of breast milk donation are experienced by babies and their families who receive donated breast milk. It is a life-saving act for them. Knowing that their little bundle of joy is getting the best nutrition possible to thrive and survive in this world also helps parents feel less stressed. Additionally, breast milk serves as the basis for an individual’s development. When infants in the intensive care unit receive exclusive human milk diet, they develop into resilient adults who contribute to a stronger community and a better country.
Conclusion
The act of donating breast milk is admirable. It might change the way communities look after their most vulnerable individuals. Mothers who donate their extra breast milk help ensure that all babies have access to the food they require to grow and thrive in the future. Additionally, it cultivates a sense of appreciation in moms and the relatives of the infants who get it.
Every drop of breast milk is a natural wonder—the ideal fusion of love, nutrition, and immunity created to protect and nurture infants. However, access to breast milk can mean the difference between survival and hardship for certain newborns, particularly those born prematurely or with health issues. You can make a difference in people’s lives now. Give vulnerable babies a better shot at a healthy and strong life by donating your excess breast milk.
References
- National, regional, and global estimates of preterm birth in 2020, with trends from 2010: a systematic analysis Ohuma, Eric O et al. The Lancet, Volume 402, Issue 10409, 1261 – 1271
- Yebally Fang M, Chatzixiros E, Grummer-Strawn L, Engmann C, Israel-Ballard K, Mansen K, O’Connor DL, Unger S, Herson M, Weaver G, Biller-Andorno N. Developing global guidance on human milk banking. Bull World Health Organ. 2021 Dec 1;99(12):892-900. doi: 10.2471/BLT.21.286943. Epub 2021 Oct 20. PMID: 34866685; PMCID: PMC8640695.
