Donor human milk bank

Question 1

What are the benefits of donor human milk compared to formula?

Answer 1

• Increases resistance to infections in premature newborns
• Reduces colonization by pathogenic microorganisms
• Improves psychomotor development in premature newborns
• Decreases intestinal surgeries caused by necrotizing enterocolitis
• Reduces the need for prolonged parenteral nutrition
• Lowers the requirement for long-term antibiotic use

Question 2

Indications for donor human milk

Answer 2

• Very low birth weight newborns (<1500g) whose mothers have insufficient lactation (not meeting the newborn’s physiological needs)
• Newborns with mothers whose lactation is insufficient and who are at high risk for necrotizing enterocolitis
• Premature newborns who do not tolerate formula and whose mothers have insufficient lactation
• Newborns of mothers with HIV

Question 3

Who can be donors?

Answer 3

All healthy women who can breastfeed are potential milk donors.

Question 4

What are donors trained for?

Answer 4

• Hand hygiene
• Breast hygiene
• How to prepare a breast pump
• How to store expressed milk