Abstract

In 1976 a human-milk bank was established at King's College Hospital to serve the neonatal intensive care unit. The bank is staffed by two part-time nurses, who interview prospective donors, organise collections, prepare samples for bacteriological screening, and process the milk. On average 25 litres a month may be collected from about 15 donors, of which at least two-thirds is free enough of bacteria to be fed raw (unheated) to sick and low-birth-weight infants. Most of the remainder may be used after holder pasteurisation. The bank provides an adequate supply of milk of consistent nutritional quality and permits a more informed approach to the dietary management of infants of low birth weight.