The
history of
breast milk banks is over 100 years. Most of the
milk banks were closed because of
HIV in the 80's. But more and more
milk banks are re-opening and new ones are being established as the composition and superiority of
breast milk are recognized again. The
Human Milk Banking
Association of
North America and European
Milk Bank Association have been set up and they have established and revised the
standards and guidelines of
breast milk banks. There is no doubt of the clinical effects of
donor human milk on
preterm infants worldwide. The Committee on
Nutrition of the European Society for Pediatric
Gastroenterology,
Hepatology and
Nutrition recommended that the
preterm infants should use
donor human milk when their own
mothers'
milk is not enough. The first
breast milk bank was set up in
China in 2013, and its clinical and social significance is worthy of further study.