A Lifeline for 1,600 Neonates: Over 1,700 Mothers Donate Surplus Breast Milk to PGI’s Human Milk Bank in Four Years

Chandigarh: In a remarkable example of compassion and community support, more than 1,700 mothers have donated surplus breast milk to the Human Milk Bank at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) over the past four years, helping save the lives of nearly 1,600 newborns admitted to its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Doctors at PGIMER say the initiative has become a crucial lifeline for premature and critically ill babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed due to medical or situational challenges. While breastfeeding is a natural process, factors such as complicated deliveries, maternal illness, low milk production, infections, or separation of mother and baby often prevent immediate feeding.

Critical Support for Vulnerable Newborns

The Human Milk Bank at PGIMER collects, screens, pasteurises and stores donated breast milk, ensuring it meets strict safety and quality standards before being provided to needy infants. The pasteurised donor human milk is especially beneficial for preterm and low birth weight babies, significantly reducing the risk of infections and life-threatening conditions such as necrotising enterocolitis.

Neonatologists at the institute emphasise that mother’s milk is considered the “first vaccine” for newborns, as it boosts immunity and supports healthy growth and brain development. When a biological mother’s milk is unavailable, donor milk becomes the safest and most recommended alternative.

A Growing Culture of Awareness

According to hospital officials, awareness about the importance of human milk donation has steadily increased. Counselling sessions conducted in maternity wards and community outreach programmes have encouraged lactating mothers with surplus milk to contribute voluntarily.

Each donor mother undergoes proper medical screening, and the collected milk is carefully processed under hygienic conditions. The milk is then stored at controlled temperatures until required in the NICU.

Emotional and Social Impact

Many donor mothers describe the act as deeply fulfilling, knowing that their milk is helping fragile newborns fight for survival. Doctors say the initiative has also fostered a strong sense of solidarity among families, turning individual generosity into a collective life-saving effort.

Hospital authorities have appealed to more lactating mothers to come forward and support the cause, stressing that even small contributions can make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable infants.

With over 1,600 newborns already benefiting from the initiative, PGIMER’s Human Milk Bank continues to stand as a beacon of hope for families navigating the most delicate moments of their lives.