Pune, August 07, 2026: Surya Mother & Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, has announced that its Human Milk Bank has supported 1,464 babies since it was established on January 14, 2023. During this period, the facility has collected 1,203 litres and 531 ml of breast milk from 1,176 donor mothers.
Integrated with the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), labour room, postnatal wards and maternity services, the 60-litre Human Milk Bank provides pasteurised donor human milk to newborns based on medical priority. According to the hospital, donor milk is used when a mother is recovering after childbirth, experiences delayed milk production, is temporarily separated from her baby, or is unable to produce sufficient milk during the initial days after delivery.
The hospital said donor human milk is particularly beneficial for premature babies, low birth weight infants, critically ill newborns and babies at risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal condition that primarily affects preterm infants.
Dr Amita Kaul, HOD, Associate Chief and Senior Consultant, Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, said, “For a premature or critically ill newborn, feeding has to be planned as carefully as any other treatment. Donor human milk supports the baby while the mother recovers or builds her own supply. For the donor, it may be a small quantity of surplus milk, but for another family, it can become an important part of their baby’s care.”
The hospital also offers lactation support through certified consultants who guide mothers on breastfeeding, milk expression, storage and donation before and after delivery, particularly for mothers with babies admitted to the NICU.
Dr. Manisha Khalane, Lactation Consultant, said, “Many mothers want to breastfeed but need help in the first few days. Our role is to support them without pressure, help them express and store milk safely, and guide eligible mothers who have surplus milk to donate. A mother’s surplus milk can help another baby through a very vulnerable period”.
The hospital follows established screening protocols for milk donation. Donor mothers undergo medical history assessment, provide consent, and are screened for infections including HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis. The donated milk is then pasteurised, tested and stored under controlled conditions before being provided to eligible newborns.
Surya Hospital noted that Pune currently has around seven human milk banks and said it will continue promoting awareness about breastfeeding, safe milk donation and early lactation support.
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