Joys of Breast Milk Sharing

World Breastfeeding Week: While breast milk banks have been around for a long time, the concept is yet to gain popularity among new mothers

Barely three days after giving birth to her daughter, Noyonika, Mumbai-based investment banker Nabonita Banerjee was informed about her bundle of joy's congenital intestinal problem that would require surgery. The infant braved the surgery and was recovering, but stressed after the ordeal Nabonita realised that she was barely producing enough milk for her newborn. That's when she thought of reaching out to her immediate group — family and other expectant mothers from the yoga class she attended.

"My yoga teacher connected me with Ritu Mukherjee, who was prompt. We discussed the logistics and soon I was picking up milk that she had expressed and stored in a container," said Nabonita. The two mothers began coordinating their schedules to ensure that both their little ones were given breast milk. For Ritu, an entrepreneur whose son Sabyasachi is now 10-months-old, it was an instinctive decision to agree. It helped that her husband extended his full support. "It was her maternal instinct that I responded to. I put myself in the shoes of the recipient and thought what if it was my baby needed the milk and no one responded," Ritu explained.

She would express milk after feeding her child and store it in a stainless steel container and freeze it. Nabonita would drive down to pick it up from her home. While the concept of breast milk donation is not popular in India yet, breast milk banks have been around for decades. While the Lokmanya Tilak Hospital in Sion was the first hospital to set up such a facility, breast milk banks are also present at KEM, Cama and Albless and the Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Mumbai.

"There are blood and semen banks that are managed safely. In the same way, breast milk bank can also be handled well," said Dr Nikhil Datar, medical director and senior gynaecologist at Cloud Nine Hospital, adding most infections are not passed through breast milk and the donor can be screened to reduce the chances of any infection to the baby.

For Nabonita though donor breast milk was a boon as it helped her daughter recover faster after the surgery. "Soon, after that I also felt better and I started producing enough milk for my baby," Nabonita added. Ritu now wants to go a step forward is planning to create an informal group that will bring new mothers together so that they can help each other. "Many of us, mothers who want to donate milk are coming together. This would be a group where the older ones will exit and the ones who have just given birth will enter," Ritu added.

Nabonita Banerjee​ with her daughter (left) and Ritu Mukherjee with her family.

About breast milk donation

• The breast milk can be expressed manually or using a pump
• If frozen immediately it can be saved for as long as 6 months
• Breast milk helps new born build immunity
• WHO recommends exclusive breast feeding for first six months
• Breast milk banks store milk from donors at several govt hospitals

NOTE: This story originally appeared in the DNA Newspaper & has been reproduced here.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-world-breastfeeding-week-joys-of-breast-milk-sharing-from-mums-mouth-2242317

MINK Laundry Services - Pamper your CLothes

Women & Clothes- the never ending saga! I always got mad at my mom for spending so much time sorting out the laundry, buying all possible detergents, conditioners, being super cautious with her silk saris & repeatedly wearing them before Dry-cleaning! I never understood why would you not Dry Clean it after each wear!

Here I am now married to a #Hujband who loves his suits & loves me in Silk & woven saris & crepe dresses. I can't help accept that yes, I have evolved into my Mom! I sort the laundry basket, scour for types of fabric conditioners, look out for stains. I carefully wear my saris & expensive dresses & wear them selectively & dry clean them even more carefully!

Being part of networking forum soften throws up opportunities at you to try out various new products & services! They genuinely seek an opinion. Some try to influence the review whilst some stay clear from any such gimmicks. I prefer the latter as it allows me to be me and honest with my readers.

So here, I am reviewing MINK Laundry Services. 

A small background on where I come from when I evaluate Dry Cleaning Services. Habits are inculcated young, my Mom taught me that if you can buy & wear a sari worth Rs.5000/- plus, you must treat it like an asset, care for it & maintain it well. She swore me to forever & forever trust only Beauty Art Drycleaners for all the heirlooms she passed on to me & I would acquire over the years. So yes, I believe in old school experience when it comes to taking care of my clothes because they truly understand weaves! 

So here was MINK tempting me with trying any of my -5- pieces of prized possessions to be dry cleaned! Haw! I thought, modern technology on Indian clothes! Yet another Presto. (Do not get me started on Presto!)

So MINK's claim to fame- Pampering your clothes & Absolutely Premium right from placing a pick up order to receiving it. 

Placing a Pick up Order: rather easy over Whatsapp

Punctuality: On Pick up, within 20 mins in Powai

Client Engagement: Well Informed & extremely courteous Staff 

Clothes Given: A brand new Linen dyed Pathani Salwar Suit, a never before washed but often worn Dinner Jacket, my #Hujband's favourite leather suede finish jacket & a silk sari which bleeds colour & had a stain.

Post Handover of clothes, the feeling I had, Premium, reminded me of the House keeping staff at any Good business hotel. 

I received a message with a pic of the stained sari which they were trying to get rid of & keep me in the loop.

Now, here is the twist. So MINK promises delivery within -48- hours. I gave away my clothes on Saturday. I definitely did not expect the clothes on Monday given Sunday would have been an off day. However when on Tuesday I did not receive my clothes, the anger in me rose because I cant stand unfulfilled promises. 

So I messaged them the next day demanding to know about my clothes to which I received the standard response that they are truly sorry for the delay & the stain has delayed them and I will positively receive my clothes the next day. 

Now, had these clothes been urgent, I would have blasted the day lights out of them but they were not. These were just long over due clothes. (Plus, I was reviewing them, hence pushed myself to be super patient)

I received my package today as promised.

Delivery: Profusely apologetic for the delay, Smiling, courteous well educated staff handed over the jackets in the hanger along with the folded sari & set in a cover.

Post Delivery Feeling: Yes. Premium. I particularly liked their packaging i.e. the cover, quality of hanger (hope they maintain it), the branded paper bag (ensures repeat use), the sari cover (ensures the sari stays in it in the wardrobe). Clothes don't smell of hard chemicals. The colours have not bled either. Ironing seems crisp even in the current humidity. 

So yes, over all, a good service experience & more importantly the clothes seem to have been pampered well. The packaging definitely steals the show.

Question is Value For Money? Well, they are a premium service so let us not talk about VFM as it is priced above the average local Dry Cleaner. It is the price one pays for guarantee & service. 

On what occasions would I personally use their services again? Wedding & Heavy saris, expensive jackets when needed expressly. Especially steam ironing of trousseau attire. Regular Clothes I would most likely skip. I would definitely like to try infant wear & expensive Pashminas with MINK to see if the softness can be maintained or made better! 

MINK Best Suited for: Expensive Couture & most loved clothing which requires genuine care. Yes, our outer skin too deserves pampering!

Pricing: 

*Note: This review was sponsored by the company, however, the views expressed are my own sans any influence & bias.