Effect of human milk banking on immediate neonatal morbidity and mortality: A study in a tertiary care center

Introduction: Human milk banking (HMB) is a service established for collection, screening, processing, storage, and distribution of donated human milk. HMB is the best way of ensuring a safe supply of human milk to all the needy neonates. It helps to decrease infections, neonatal sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis, thus reduces neonatal morbidity and mortality. Methodology: This is a short-term student research project conducted as an observational, comparative, cross-sectional study. It was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and HMB of a tertiary care hospital in a metropolitan city, conducted after approval from the Ethics Committee of the Institute. A total of 50 neonates from the NICU who had received pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) were enrolled in one group (Group I – PDHM). The data of 50 newborns from NICU of the same institute were also collected retrograded for comparison before the establishment of HMB, as they had not received PDHM and enrolled in another group (Group II – non-PDHM). Results: It was observed that in Group I (PDHM), 55% of neonates were full term and 42.5% were preterm, and in Group II, 45% were full terms and 57.5% were preterm. Sepsis was seen in 30% of Group 1 and 54% of Group 2 and hyperbilirubinemia was seen in 22% of Group 1 and 42% of Group 2. There was a 24% decrease in sepsis and 20% decrease in hyperbilirubinemia in PDHM group. Mortality was seen in 40% of Group 1 and 60% of Group 2. A decrease in mortality was seen in PDHM group. Conclusions: HMB is imperative for the reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality. It is a feasible, cost-effective option and a boon for neonates, particularly in developing countries like India.