Necker Hospital Produces Women's Milk for Premature Infant Rescue in Factory Setting
In the Necker-Enfants malades hospital, Paris, a hidden gem exists—a lactarium, a milk storage facility, away from the bustling neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Every year, this unit processes 12,000 liters of "mother's gold," primarily destined for the most delicate premature babies at Necker and other Ile-de-France hospitals.
The donated milk, shipped frozen, first goes through a 48-hour quarantine while donor blood tests are conducted. Clad in protective gear—masks, gloves, gowns, and pale yellow smocks—operators meticulously handle the milk, pouring it into clear plastic containers, weighing each, and pasteurizing it in small bottles. A specific heating-freezing process is used, keeping the anti-infective properties intact while obliterating as many germs as possible, including dangerous ones like cytomegalovirus and Bacillus. Following this, the milk spends 48 hours in large freezers, waiting for bacteriological analysis, and ten percent of it goes to waste during the initial stages.
Collection and Initial Handling:The donor milk, once it arrives frozen, enters a 48-hour quarantine period while donor blood tests are performed. Staff, dressed in protective gear, handle the milk in a dedicated, basement facility designed to process 12,000 liters annually.
Pasteurization Protocol:Through a precise heat treatment, the milk is:
- Heated to 60.5°C
- Subjected to ultra-high freezing right after heating
This process ensures that the milk's anti-infective properties are preserved while pathogens like cytomegalovirus and Bacillus are eliminated.
Quality Control Measures:After pasteurization, the milk undergoes:1. 48-hour deep-freeze storage at ultra-low temperatures2. Microbiological testing3. Portion-controlled bottling in sterile, small containers
Storage Practices:The processed milk remains in hospital's milk bank freezers, maintained at constant cold-chain management, until required for babies in the NICU. This system prioritizes immune-protective components while ensuring safety for vulnerable preterm newborns.
Waste Reduction Strategies: Approximately 10% of the milk initially goes to waste during the initial stages of processing, but ongoing research and efficiency improvements aim to minimize this loss.
Health and Wellness Benefits: The donated breast milk, following scientifically-backed methods, is a crucial source of nutrition for newborns, supporting healthy growth and development, particularly for premature infants.
The Role of Women's Health: The lactarium at Necker-Enfants malades hospital, by providing breast milk to newborns, underscores the significance of women's health and its impact on child development.
Fitness and Exercise Considerations: While fitness and exercise routines aren't directly involved, maintaining a healthy diet rich in nutrients is essential for breast milk production and quality.
nutriScience: The process of collecting, handling, pasteurizing, and storing donated breast milk is guided by science, ensuring the milk retains its nutritional value while minimizing the risk of infectious disease transmission.
Contribution to the Community: The milk bank's operations contribute to the larger health-and-wellness community by offering a vital service to at-risk newborns, optimizing their chances for a healthy start in life.
