Human Milk Banks Provide Lifesaving Nutrition for Premature Babies

Human milk banks in Germany are helping save the lives of premature and sick infants, but the demand for donor milk far exceeds the supply.

Premature babies, particularly those born before 32 weeks or under 1,500 grams, benefit greatly from human milk due to its protective enzymes and antibodies.
Human milk banks, such as the one in Dortmund, offer donated breast milk to infants whose mothers cannot produce milk due to medical or stress-related reasons.
Germany has 53 human milk banks, but they face challenges like funding, staffing, and storage, leading to shortages in donor milk availability nationwide.
Donated milk undergoes rigorous testing, pasteurization, and freezing to ensure safety and can be stored for up to six months for neonatal use.
Experts emphasize that breast milk, even when donated, significantly reduces risks of severe conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis and other life-threatening complications in preterm infants.