Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta has sparked an important conversation on maternal and infant health care on social media after she revealed that she donated nearly 60 litres of breast milk to government hospitals in Hyderabad and Chennai during her first year postpartum.
" Why does it matter? Just 100ml of donor milk can feed a tiny 1kg baby for several days. This donation could potentially support dozens of infants in the NICU. Donating is safe, screened, and desperately needed. Many NICU babies don't have immediate access to their mother's own milk due to medical complications. Donor milk acts as a vital bridge, providing immunity and nutrition during those critical first days," mentioned her post on X (formerly Twitter).
Netizens appreciated her decision to donate breast milk and also her efforts to create awareness on the life-saving importance of the donation for premature and critically ill newborns. Jwala Gutta’s breast milk donation is more than a heartwarming celebrity story; it is a significant public health message.
Why Jwala Gutta’s breast milk donation matters
Breast milk is considered the gold standard of infant nutrition, particularly for premature babies. It contains essential antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and nutrients that strengthen immunity, support gut development, and lower the risk of severe infections.
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As per the Cleveland Clinic, breast milk supports the baby’s health because it:
- Is easy to digest
- Contains antibodies that protect against infection and boost immunity
- Has the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and vitamins for your baby’s all-around development
- Promotes healthy weight gain
- Changes in composition to meet your baby’s nutritional needs over time
- Contains substances that naturally soothe the baby
Donor human milk becomes critical when mothers are unable to breastfeed due to medical complications, premature delivery, illness, or delayed milk production in their bodies.
There is a need for larger awareness around human milk banks in India, which remain underutilised despite the growing need. These specialised facilities collect excess breast milk from screened donors, pasteurise it for safety, and distribute it to NICUs and newborns in need. Many people remain unaware that healthy lactating mothers with excess milk can safely donate after proper health screening.
