Operation Status of the Mutual Aid Human Milk Bank for Preterm Infants and Data Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the matching degree between the donated supply and demand, clinical characteristics of both donors and recipients, along with the operation cost. Methods: From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, the data on human milk donation and usage, the clinical characteristics of donors and recipients, and the cost of each operating center were collected from the Manual Donation Registration Form and Information Management System of the selected human milk bank. Results: During the four years that the human milk bank was in operation, the volume of donated milk was slightly greater than the volume of consumed milk. A total of 1364 donors donated 2434.63 liters of qualified human milk, for RMB 1,791,000 (USD 257, 202), ie, RMB 385.3 (USD 55.3)/L; 97.8% of the donors were preterm puerperae, and 59% of the donors donated between 1 week and 1 month after delivery. All recipients were preterm infants and received donated human milk for a duration of 9.4 days on average. During the four years of operation, the proportion of donors who had previously received donated milk among all donors showed an overall increasing trend, while the incidence of NEC in preterm infants gradually decreased. Conclusions:The increasingly optimized structure of donors, the more economical operation, and the fact that the use of donated milk may not affect breastfeeding of the recipients have made it a human milk bank operation mode worthy of promotion.

Operation Status of the Mutual Aid Human Milk Bank for Preterm Infants and Data Analysis [Letter]

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We have read the paper by Wang et al about Operation Status of the Mutual Aid Human Milk Bank for Preterm Infants and Data Analysis. 1 We congratulate all authors who have provided important information regarding the level of correspondence between supply and demand for donor human milk (DHM) as well as the clinical characteristics of donors and recipients (premature babies). Premature babies are very susceptible to iodine deficiency therefore Donor human milk (DHM) is the best choice if mother's own milk (MOM) is not available, 2 besides that if MOM supplies are insufficient, pasteurized DHM is preferred over formula milk to supplement the diet premature baby.

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“…4 In conclusion we agree that the continued operation of human milk banks depends on donated Human Milk funds and resources, and the successful maintenance of the Mutual Aid Human Milk Bank for Premature Babies is essential to actively expanding the development of human milk banks. 1 We recommend optimizing Human Milk fortification in Donor Human Milk (DHM) because pasteurized HM has much lower bioactive properties compared to fresh and frozen Human Milk. 5 The European Milk Bank Association encourages the use of "Individual Fortification" to optimize nutritional intake in HM.…”