Delhi AIIMS starts 'Payodhi', human milk bank for critically-ill babies

NEW DELHI: All India Institute of Medical Sciences has launched Payodhi, a human milk bank that serves as a comprehensive lactation management centre, processing milk for critically ill preterm babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Medical specialists stress that mother's milk is vital to newborns, particularly premature babies. When mothers face medical constraints that prevent breastfeeding, pasteurised donor human milk is the best substitute, aligning with WHO and Indian govt protocol.
Before establishing its own facility, AIIMS worked jointly with Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC). The staff transported donated milk to LHMC for pasteurisation, ensuring proper cold chain maintenance.
AIIMS began the independent milk bank operations after obtaining their pasteuriser in Sept 2024. The milk bank, established by the division of neonatology, department of pediatrics, provides complimentary services for NICU babies, including maternal counselling, surplus milk donation, pasteurisation and storage.
This initiative is vital to providing essential nutrition to premature infants in the AIIMS NICU. Speaking to TOI, Dr Kajal Jain, in charge of the milk bank, said that lactating mothers donate approximately 20 litres monthly.
This supports 15 to 18 unwell premature babies, aiding their survival, recovery and brain development. Some mothers donated substantial quantities, ranging from 25 to 50 litres, during their babies' hospitalisation. These services are provided free of cost. She elaborated that preterm neonates in NICU require maternal milk.
In cases where mothers are deceased or unable to express milk, the infants cannot receive milk from their birth mothers. Conversely, some mothers produce excess milk, which often goes waste. Following maternal screening for HIV, hepatitis and other conditions, and upon receiving consent, donations are accepted.
The collection and distribution services are exclusively available to mothers and infants admitted to AIIMS. The operation of a human milk bank encompasses various crucial stages to guarantee safe collection, storage and distribution of donor milk to infants.
The initial phase involves comprehensive screening of potential donors, including assessment of medical history, lifestyle evaluation and blood testing to confirm their health status and donation eligibility.
Last Dec, a lactation management unit (LMU) was inaugurated at Safdarjung Hospital also.