| A report on operating a nationwide human milk bank in Korea |
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Kang Hoon Song1, Yoo Min Lee1, Ji Young Chang1, Eun Young Park2, Sung Ae Park2, Nam Kyu Cho2, Chong-Woo Bae1 |
1Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University East West Neo Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
2Mother & Infant Care Center, Kyung Hee University East West Neo Medical Center, Seoul, Korea |
| 전국규모 모유은행 운영보고 |
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송강훈1, 이유민1, 장지영1, 박은영2, 박성애2, 조남규2, 배종우1 |
1경희대학교 동서신의학병원 소아청소년과
2경희대학교 동서신의학병원 모자보건센터 |
Correspondence:
Chong-Woo Bae, Email: baecw@khnmc.or.kr
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: A human milk bank collects, processes, eliminates, and stores breast milk from donors and provides breast milk
to those in need. The authors hereby present the experiences and the objective lessons obtained through operating a nationwide
human milk bank over a period of 2 years.
Methods
: The characteristics of the donors and the recipients and the amounts of breast milk donated, processed, and
received at the East-West Neo Medical Center Human Milk Bank were investigated from August 2007 to August 2009.
Results
: The donor pool consisted of 131 first-time donors and 39 repeat donors who made 341 and 127 donations, respectively.
Seventy-nine percent of the donors resided in the Seoul-Kyunggi area, and 60% of the donors were in their
30s. Most information and motivation came from the Internet (66%) or television (14%). A total of 2,736 L of breast
milk was collected, and 1,979 L were processed. The cumulative number of recipients was 160 preterm or full-term infants
and 21 adults, each group receiving the breast milk 337 and 41 times, respectively. In total, infants received 1,663 L and
adults received 179 L.
Conclusion
: Through the present study, the role and importance of a human milk bank in collecting, pasteurizing, and
storing surplus breast milk in through sanitary, medically proven methods and providing this breast milk to recipients could
be appreciated and reevaluated. The authors believe that a national support system is necessary to expand this practice
to a nationwide scale. |
| Key Words:
Human milk, Breastfeeding, Milk bank |
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