Pune: The health benefits of breast milk for newborns are undeniable, yet many newborns in Pimpri-Chinchwad are deprived due to medical reasons.

This has highlighted the urgent need for a human milk bank at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, a key municipal healthcare facility in the region. The absence of such a facility forces parents to rely on costly private alternatives.

YCM Hospital caters to many economically disadvantaged women who, due to inadequate nutrition during pregnancy, struggle with low milk production after childbirth.

Situations like low initial milk supply, complications from C-sections, maternal mortality, or illnesses requiring medication further prevent mothers from breastfeeding. In these cases, milk from a human milk bank could ensure newborns receive essential nutrients and immune support.

If a newborn cannot receive its mother's milk, it can be given milk from another mother stored in the milk bank. Mothers who produce more milk than their babies need can voluntarily donate to this bank. The milk donated is from physically healthy and fit mothers, stored at a specific temperature, and sterilized.

Dr. Rajendra Wable, Dean, YCM Hospital stated, "We have found a place for the milk bank. Necessary evaluations have been done. The proposal has been sent to the commissioner, and work will commence upon approval from the municipality."

Dr. Deepali Ambike, Head of Pediatric Department, YCM Hospital said, "Most women giving birth at YCM are from poor families and have not taken adequate care during pregnancy. Consequently, the babies are often underweight, and mothers do not produce enough milk postpartum.

It is not affordable for these women to buy milk from private milk banks. Hence, we have proposed having our own human milk bank at YCM Hospital."