Process of donating human milk from the milk bank in the city of Petrolina, PE / Processo de doação de leite humano do banco de leite da cidade de Petrolina-PE

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the donation of human milk at the Banco de Incentivo e Apoio a Amamentação (BIAMA) (Breastfeeding Incentive and Support Bank) from 2018 to 2020. Methods: normative assessment, descriptive and exploratory character, with a quantitative approach and focus on the Donabedian Model. Study with a locus at BIAMA at Dom Malan Hospital, in the city of Petrolina-PE, based on registrations from the online platform of the Rede Brasileira de Bancos de Leite Humano (Brazilian Network of Human Milk Banks), with data from BIAMA from 2018 to 2020 and field activities. Results: in 2020, there was a decrease in the number of group assistance and medical consultations, in contrast to the increase in nursing consultations. Most of the milk supply comes from the external public, and in 2020 there was a reduction number of donors and in the volume of human milk collected. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on BIAMA activities and on milk donation, however, the use of new means of communication for patient care was observed. Even so, new donor recruitment strategies must be implemented. Regarding the main norms that regulate the operation of Human Milk Banks, most of the items listed are obeyed by BIAMA.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar a doação de leite humano no Banco de Incentivo e Apoio a Amamentação (BIAMA) no período de 2018 a 2020. Métodos: avaliação normativa, de caráter descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem quantitativa e enfoque no Modelo Donabedian. Estudo com lócus no BIAMA do Hospital Dom Malan, na cidade de Petrolina-PE, a partir de registros da plataforma online da Rede Brasileira de Bancos de Leite Humano, com dados do BIAMA de 2018 a 2020 e atividades de campo. Resultados: em 2020, houve um decréscimo no número de atendimentos em grupo e de consultas médicas, em contrapartida, ao aumento das consultas de enfermagem. A maior parte do abastecimento de leite advém do público externo, e em 2020 foi observado uma redução no número de doadoras e no volume de leite humano coletado. Conclusões: a pandemia de COVID-19 repercutiu de forma negativa em atividades do BIAMA e na doação de leite, no entanto, foi observado a utilização de novos meios de comunicação para atendimento dos pacientes. Ainda assim, novas estratégias para recrutamento de doadoras devem ser implementadas. Em relação às principais normas que regulamentam o funcionamento de Bancos de Leite Humano, a maioria dos itens elencados são obedecidos pelo BIAMA.

Ambiência - Localização e infraestrutura física de Bancos de Leite Humano e Postos de Coleta de Leite Humano / Ambientación - Localización e infraestructura física de Bancos de Leche Humana y Centros de Recolección de Leche Humana / Ambience - Location and physical infrastructure of Human Milk Banks and Human Milk Collection Stations

Esta Norma Técnica tem por objetivo estabelecer as condições mínimas de localização e infraestrutura física necessária à execução dos processos realizados em Bancos de Leite Humano e Postos de Coleta de Leite Humano, visando a garantia da qualidade nestes serviços e sua certificação.

Esta Norma Técnica tiene como objetivo establecer las condiciones mínimas de ubicación e infraestructura física necesarias para la implementación de los procesos que se realizan en los Bancos de Leche Humana y Centros de Recolección de Leche Humana, para garantizar la calidad en estos servicios y su certificaci

Trends and Dynamics in the First Four Years of Operation of the First Human Milk Bank in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Since 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have recommended the use of pasteurized human milk from a human milk bank (HMB) to feed low birthweight (LBW) and preterm newborns as the 'first alternative' when mothers are unable to provide their own milk. However, they have not issued any guidelines for the safe establishment and operation of an HMB. This gap contributes to the demand for gathering experiences from HMB networks, especially those from lower-middle income countries. To fill this knowledge gap, this study examines the characteristics of donors, donation, pasteurization, and recipients during the first four years of operation in the first HMB in Vietnam. METHODS: Data about the donors, donation, pasteurization, and recipients were extracted from the web-based electronic monitoring system of the HMB from 1 February 2017 to 31 January 2021. RESULTS: In the first four years of operation there were 433 donors who donated 7642 L of milk (66% from the community) with an increased trend in the amount of donated milk, donation duration, and average amount of milk donated by a donor. Approximately 98% of the donated milk was pasteurized, and 82% passed both pre- and post-pasteurization tests. Although the pass rate tended to increase with time, a few dips occurred. Of 16,235 newborns who received pasteurized donor milk, two thirds were in the postnatal wards. The main reason for the prescription of pasteurized donor milk was insufficient mothers' own milk in the first few days after birth. There was a decreased trend in the amount and duration of using pasteurized donor milk in both postnatal wards and the neonatal unit. CONCLUSIONS: The HMB has operated efficiently in the previous four years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, to serve vulnerable newborns. Ongoing evidence-based adjustments helped to improve the operation to recruit suitable donors, to increase the access to and quality of raw donor milk, to improve the pasteurization process, and to meet the need of more newborns.

Human milk banks in the response to COVID-19: a statement of the regional human milk bank network for Southeast Asia and beyond.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on infant feeding in the context of COVID-19 uphold standing recommendations for breastfeeding, non-separation, and skin-to-skin contact, including the use of donor human milk when mother's own milk is not available. INSUFFICIENT GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF DONOR HUMAN MILK AND THE ROLE OF HUMAN MILK BANKS IN THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE: COVID-19 clinical management guidelines in seven countries in Southeast Asia are not aligned with WHO recommendations despite the lack of evidence of transmission through either breastmilk or breastfeeding. The use of safe donor human milk accessed through human milk banks is also insufficiently recommended, even in countries with an existing human milk bank, leading to a gap in evidence-based management of COVID-19. This highlights long-standing challenges as well as opportunities in the safe, equitable, and resilient implementation of human milk banks in the region. CONCLUSIONS: This statement reflects the expert opinion of the Regional Human Milk Bank Network for Southeast Asia and Beyond on the need to revisit national guidelines based on the best evidence for breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, to incorporate human milk bank services in national obstetric and newborn care guidelines for COVID-19 where possible, and to ensure that operations of human milk banks are adapted to meet the needs of the current pandemic and to sustain donor human milk supply in the long-term. The Network also recommends sustained engagement with the global human milk bank community.

How do I create a partnership between a blood bank and a milk bank to provide safe, pasteurized human milk to infants?

The now 5-year collaboration between the Indiana Blood Center, now Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, and The Milk Bank has increased the number of human milk donors, improved the collection and processing of donor milk, and improved awareness of this lifesaving resource. The Indiana Blood Center provides greater visibility for The Milk Bank, creating more opportunities to reach potential donors, and can provide the screening blood test for potential donors to become approved human milk donors. The resources of the multiple locations of the Indiana Blood Center permitted the formation of new milk depots in five different cities and quicker transportation of donated milk through their active courier system. This partnership most importantly has improved awareness for both lifesaving missions to the communities they serve.

Role of human milk banks amid COVID 19: perspective from a milk bank in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the operation of donor human milk banks in various countries such as China, Italy and India. It is understandable that this impact on operations of donor human milk might hamper the capability of these milk banks to provide sufficient pasteurized donor milk to neonates who need it. Contrary to developed world, predominant donors in developing nations are mothers of hospitalised neonates who have a relatively long period of hospital stay. This longer maternal hospital stay enhances the feasibility of milk donation by providing mothers with access to breast pumps to express their milk. Any excess milk a mother expresses which is above the needs of their own infant can be voluntarily donated. This physical proximity of milk banks to donors may help continuation of human milk donation in developing nations during the pandemic. Nevertheless, protocols need to be implemented to i) ensure the microbiological quality of the milk collected and ii) consider steps to mitigate potential consequences related to the possibility of the donor being an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19. We present the procedural modifications implemented at the Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre at Lady Hardinge Medical College in India to promote breastfeeding and human milk donation during the pandemic which comply with International and National guidelines. This commentary provides a perspective from a milk bank in India which might differ from the perspective of the international donor human milk banking societies.

Nursing actions in human milk banks in times of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the actions of the Human Milk Banks coordination to favor the continuity of breastfeeding in the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Descriptive study, of qualitative approach, with theoretical-methodological reference of Pierre Bourdieu. Data collection was done through interviews between March and April, with five coordinations and results organized by thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two categories were produced: the actions of strategies for the maintenance of Human Milk Banks services by digital means as a way to ensure social distancing and breastfeeding in times of pandemic of the new coronavirus; and the actions of promotion, protection and support in strategies for maintenance of breastfeeding during the pandemic. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of the new coronavirus. The importance of systematic nursing practices in the quality and safety of the process of Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding is evident.

João Aprígio Guerra de Almeida: supporting breastfeeding mothers.

João Aprígio Guerra de Almeida speaks to Andréia Azevedo Soares about the origins of Brazil's human milk bank network and the psychosocial aspects of breastfeeding.

Cost Analysis of Operating a Human Milk Bank in China.

BACKGROUND: Establishing a human milk bank for the benefit of premature newborns who are unable to receive their mothers' milk for various reasons is a common initiative. To date, 19 human milk banks have been established in China; however, data associated with human milk banks are lacking, including information on the operational costs, guidelines, and regulatory systems for human milk banks in China. RESEARCH AIM: Our study aim was to conduct a cost analysis for the human milk bank at Shanghai Children's Hospital. METHODS: A management accounting approach, based on the activity-based costing method, was used to develop a cost model for donor human milk. The data were collected retrospectively and included budget plans, financial and expenditure reports, databases, and interviews with the staff and managers at the Shanghai Children's Hospital Human Milk Bank in 2017. RESULTS: In 2017, the total volume of qualified donor human milk was 933.70 L, of which 842.71 L (90%) was frozen and 90.99 L (10%) was freshly donated on site. The total annual cost to provide milk for 212 high-risk infants in 2017 was US$156,923, and the unit cost was US$168/L. CONCLUSIONS: The operating costs of human milk banks in China are similar to those in other countries internationally, but these costs are so large that they require government and society support for funding and milk donation. Therefore, ongoing breastfeeding support for mothers and measures to reduce the operating costs of human milk banks should be advocated.

Supporting mothers, protecting babies for long-term health: establishing a pasteurised human milk bank.

It is now very clear that early feeding practices have lifelong implications for an individual's health as well as economic and public health consequences. This article summarises some of the important reasons to prioritise breast milk feeding and introduces the Christchurch Neonatal Intensive Care Human Milk Bank. This Milk Bank was opened in 2014 to support babies and their families with the provision of pasteurised donor milk. The primary goals were to support mothers while they established their own milk supply, reduce exposure to parenteral nutrition and formula and reduce the risk of necrotising enterocolitis in this vulnerable population.

A Landscape Analysis of Human Milk Banks in India.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the existing status of human milk banks in India with reference to infrastructure, human resources, funding mechanisms, operating procedures and quality assurance. METHODS: A pretested questionnaire was administered to 16 out of 22 human milk banks across India, operational for more than one year prior to commencing the study. RESULTS: 11 (69%) milk banks were in government or charitable hospitals; only 2 (12.5%) were established with government funding. 8 (50%) had a dedicated technician and only 1(6%) had more than five lactation counsellors. Milk was collected predominantly from mothers of sick babies and in postnatal care wards followed by pediatric outpatient departments, camps, satellite centers, and homes. 10 (63%) reported gaps between donor milk demand and supply. 12 (75%) used shaker water bath pasteurizer and cooled the milk manually without monitoring temperature, and 4 (25%) pooled milk under the laminar airflow. 10 (63%) tracked donor to recipient and almost all did not collect data on early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding or human milk feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reports the gaps of milk banking practices in India, which need to be addressed for strengthening them. Gaps include suboptimal financial support from the government, shortage of key human resources, processes and data gaps, and demand supply gap of donor human milk.

Informal Breast Milk Sharing in a Muslim Country: The Frequency, Practice, Risk Perception, and Risk Reduction Strategies Used by Mothers.

Introduction: Turkey is the first and only Islamic country which has initiated a process to establish a milk bank. However, the effort was abandoned because of religious concerns. Informal breast milk sharing has become a practical alternative to some. Research Aims: To document the religious concerned views and attitudes toward breast milk sharing and to determine risk reduction strategies of mothers in an Islamic country. Materials and Methods: Participants comprised volunteers from relevant forums or members of social media groups on the Internet. The participants (n = 435) were divided into three groups: those who did not share milk (n = 371), donors (n = 48), and receivers (n = 16). A prepared questionnaire was used for each group as a data collection tool. Results: 14.7% of the participants were experienced in informal milk sharing. Seventy-five percent of the recipients and 85.4% of the donors did not enter into a written agreement. Religious rules on milk sharing were reflected in three ways: asking about the infant's gender, limiting the number of sharing parties to 3, and knowing the identity of the donor or recipient. Of the participants, 77.3% believed that it was necessary to establish a milk bank in Turkey. However, 19.5% of the respondents reported that they would not feed their infant with donor milk because of reasons related to the issue of "milk kinship" in Islam. Conclusions: Informal milk sharing is a reality and risks similar to those stated in the literature are undertaken. Milk sharing is frequently performed independent of religious concerns and commercial purposes, Comprehensive measures to minimize disease transmission are not routinely implemented.