In a heroic deed of different sorts, Rushina Doctor Marfatia saved lives of 5 premature babies battling for life in ICUs by donating 12 liters of her breast milk in three months. The mothers of these babies were either too sick or could not provide milk to their babies.

Her deed is priceless as her milk served as panacea for these delicate babies fighting for life. The babies weighed between 600 gm and 1.5 Kg with increased susceptibility to infections.

Dr Ashish Mehta, neonatologist of Arpan Newborn Care Center applauded her. The center had started Arpan’s Mother’s Own Milk (MOM) bank earlier this year on a pilot basis. Doctors say that mother’s milk is miracle food for babies. Medical science have suggested that human milk is the best food for the baby as it is most easily digestible, full of nutrients and boosts the immunity of infants to fight diseases. In words of Dr Mehta, “Needless to say, when we fed premature babies, whose intestines are very weak and under developed in ICUs with mother’s milk instead of formula, 50% of the children got better faster and did not report digestive troubles which slowdown their progress. “

Rushina, who became a mother on September 20 said, “I wondered if I could donate the milk for some sick or needy baby, my father rummaged through hospitals and found this bank. Apart from exclusively breast-feeding my son, I started donating my milk and do not plan to stop anytime soon.”

Rushina has now become part of the army of 250 mothers who donated milk to Arpan MOM bank. It has received nearly 90 liters of milk till date in donations which roughly translates to 600 ml milk feeds of 150-ml each.

Source: ET Healthworld