Depositing, distributing and processing of breast milk has now begun in the bank (Representative Image). | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Lucknow: Breastfeeding is one of the most important factors that ensure proper development of a newborn. In some cases, medical complications do not allow mothers to feed their newborn babies. To help such mothers and their babies, a milk bank was opened at a medical university in Lucknow.

The human milk bank at King George's Medical University (KGMU) has helped mothers who cannot lactate. While Maharashtra and Rajasthan already have such banks, this is the first of its kind in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Meant to reduce neonatal deaths, the bank provides medically processed breast milk to newborns and stillborn babies. The milk bank was opened in March this year. Depositing, distributing and processing of breast milk has now begun in the bank.

While talking to the Hindustan Times, nodal officer of the breast milk bank, Dr Sheetal Verma said that they were collecting milk from mothers whose babies have been admitted to the ICU of the hospital. The milk collected is being provided to infants who are deprived of breast milk.

To ensure efficiency, the standardisation of the quality of processing is being done with cow milk. The quality check of the milk with cow milk has been successful. The bank is further planning to collect breast milk to provide it to newborns.

Dr Verma further added that the mothers who lactate excessively but give birth to still born babies can be ideal donors for them. Breast milk proves highly fruitful in strengthening babies against infections and in ensuring overall growth.