Role of human milk banks amid COVID 19: perspective from a milk bank in India
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(2020) 15:104
COMMENTARY
Open Access
Role of human milk banks amid COVID 19: perspective from a milk bank in India Maheshwar Bhasin1, Sushma Nangia1,2*
and Srishti Goel2
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the operation of donor human milk banks in various countries such as China, Italy and India. It is understandable that this impact on operations of donor human milk might hamper the capability of these milk banks to provide sufficient pasteurized donor milk to neonates who need it. Contrary to developed world, predominant donors in developing nations are mothers of hospitalised neonates who have a relatively long period of hospital stay. This longer maternal hospital stay enhances the feasibility of milk donation by providing mothers with access to breast pumps to express their milk. Any excess milk a mother expresses which is above the needs of their own infant can be voluntarily donated. This physical proximity of milk banks to donors may help continuation of human milk donation in developing nations during the pandemic. Nevertheless, protocols need to be implemented to i) ensure the microbiological quality of the milk collected and ii) consider steps to mitigate potential consequences related to the possibility of the donor being an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19. We present the procedural modifications implemented at the Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre at Lady Hardinge Medical College in India to promote breastfeeding and human milk donation during the pandemic which comply with International and National guidelines. This commentary provides a perspective from a milk bank in India which might differ from the perspective of the international donor human milk banking societies. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Breastfeeding, Expressed breast milk, Human milk banks, Donor milk
Background The novelty of the causative agent for COVID-19, the SARS-CoV-2 virus means that various aspects of the disease including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and management remain largely unknown. Clinical manifestations reported in COVID-19 patients include the full spectrum from asymptomatic carriers, to mild pneumonia-like symptoms, to severe respiratory distress or having a fatal outcome [1]. Pregnant women are immune suppressed and were reported to be more susceptible to respiratory infections * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Vatsalya: Maatri Amrit Kosh, National Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India 2 Department of Neonatology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India
including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV [2, 3]. Adverse effects on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes such as sudden miscarriage, preterm labour, and intrauterine growth retardation have been well established in mothers with SARS-CoV [2]. Benefits of breastfeeding and human milk feeding for neonates have been well documented. The World Health Organization recommends observing necessary p
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