Mumbai’s pioneering breast milk bank at LTMG Hospital, Sion, has reached a significant milestone, assisting over 10,000 newborns in just the past five years. Established in 1989, this facility is recognised as Asia’s first human milk bank and has made a profound impact on neonatal care in the region.
According to recent data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the milk bank has benefitted from the contributions of 43,412 new mothers during this period. This initiative has been crucial in providing essential nutrition to infants, particularly those born prematurely or with low birth weight. Dean of Sion Hospital, highlighted that the milk bank plays a vital role in supporting infants with insufficient growth or low birth weight. The facility typically sees between 10,000 and 12,000 births annually, with 1,500 to 2,000 newborns relying on the bank’s services each year.
Colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk produced by mothers after childbirth, is particularly important for newborns. It provides critical antibodies and nutrients that help protect against infections. The human milk bank at Sion Hospital addresses the needs of infants whose mothers are unable to produce sufficient milk due to various medical issues. Between 2019 and 2024, the bank successfully collected 4,184 litres of milk.
The process involves thorough testing of donated milk to ensure safety, followed by pasteurisation to eliminate any bacterial presence. The milk is then stored in deep freezers at temperatures below -20°C. While most donations come from hospitals, some mothers also contribute milk directly from their homes, with hospital staff coordinating collections as needed. This breast milk bank has not only provided critical support to countless newborns but has also served as a model for similar initiatives in other hospitals across western India.
