Bengaluru: In just three years since its launch, Amrutha Dhare, Karnataka’s first state-run human breast milk bank at Vani Vilas Hospital, has seen a one-and-a-half-fold increase in annual milk donations. Hospital officials say a 35% rise in preterm births in recent times is the major reason.
With over 1,500 births per month, the hospital handles a high number of complicated pregnancies. “As a referral hospital, many of the expectant mothers we receive have severe complications, leading to a significant number of preterm births,” said Dr Sahana Devadas, head of paediatrics, adding: “That’s where our milk bank, officially known as the comprehensive lactation management centre (CLMC), plays a crucial role.”
Over the last three years, 2,655 mothers donated breast milk, benefiting 3,113 vulnerable newborns.
In 2024 alone, CLMC collected 323,584 ml of human milk, up from 1,21694 ml collected in 2022. With the rise in preterm births, the bank has scaled up collection and distribution efforts to ensure every baby in need is supported.
“Initially, we helped mothers by giving surplus milk, but we had to stop because some started taking it for granted,” said Archana B, in charge of CLMC. “At Vani Vilas, we prioritise a mother’s own milk (MoM) and strictly avoid formula feeding. If the mother is unable to feed her baby, only then do we prefer the donated milk.”
But how do they store the milk? After the milk is collected, a sample is sent for bacterial analysis and it is then stored at -22 degrees Celsius in a deep freezer. The milk collected from different mothers is pooled and pasteurised. Bacterial analysis is repeated after pasteurisation to ensure safety and avoid contamination. The milk, once processed for pasteurisation, can be used for up to six months.
The need for donor milk is particularly high in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where nearly 4,500 babies are admitted every year. Dr. Sahana emphasised the significance of the milk bank in improving newborn survival rates: “We carefully regulate the distribution to ensure every baby gets the right amount of milk, preventing any misuse.”
Counselling plays a key role in increasing human milk donations, says Dr. Sahana. “For preterm and extremely preterm babies, even a single drop of breast milk can be life-saving. We actively counsel mothers who produce surplus milk, encouraging them to donate and help more newborns survive. With the rising number of preterm births, donor milk is often the only option for these infants. Many mothers are willing to contribute when they understand their milk can save lives. With our efforts, the number of donors has doubled since the launch.”
BOX:
Who needs donated milk?
– Preterm babies
– Critically ill mothers
– Mothers with multiple births
– Abandoned or orphaned newborns
BOX: IN NUMBERS
Donors
2022: 570
2023: 933
2024: 1,152
Human milk collected (in ml)
2022: 12,1694
2023: 17,2640
2024: 32,3584
Until Mar 2025: 30,958
Source: Vani Vilas Hospital
