Anyatejes

Anyatejes is a term used in the Philippines to describe the practice of feeding infants with donor breast milk, particularly through formal milk banks or informal networks. It is a colloquial expression rather than a clinical term and is used in various community and healthcare contexts to refer to expressed human milk provided for infant feeding.

Donor milk is typically used when an infant cannot be breastfed by the mother due to medical or social reasons. Donor milk is collected, screened for infectious diseases, pasteurized, and then distributed to hospitals or families under strict storage and handling protocols. The process aims to preserve the nutritional and immunological benefits of human milk while minimizing safety risks.

Safety and standards are central to anyatejes practices. Donor screening includes medical history reviews and testing for infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Pasteurization, labeling, traceability, and informed consent are standard components, with careful attention to cold chain storage and proper handling to maintain milk quality.

Regulation and access vary by country and program but commonly involve hospitals, non-governmental organizations, and national health authorities. Guidelines typically cover donor recruitment, milk handling, pasteurization, and equitable access, with priority often given to premature or ill infants who stand to gain the most from donor milk, when available.

Impact and considerations include potential health benefits for vulnerable infants and ongoing discussions about cost, sustainability, and safety infrastructure. Cultural attitudes toward sharing human milk, as well as the availability of lactation support and alternative feeding options, can influence acceptance and use of anyatejes programs.

See also: Human milk, Lactation support, Milk bank, Donor milk.