When the world was chasing records, one woman quietly fed thousands of fragile infants with her breast milk. Sounds incredible, right? As reported by The Times of India, Selva Brindha, a 33-year-old woman from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, donated over 300 litres of breast milk over 22 months. This way, she helped several premature and sick newborn babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) who rely on healthy breast milk for survival. Selva’s steady contribution from April 2023-February 2025 accounted for nearly half of the breast milk collected by Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital Milk Bank.

Related: Breast Milk Donation In India: Why It’s Important And How To Do It

What led Selva Brindha to donate 300 litres of breast milk?

As reported by Republic World, Selva Brindha’s breast milk donation journey began when her second child was born with neonatal jaundice. They were admitted to the NICU, where the doctors asked her to pump her breast milk to feed her child. According to the TOI, a newborn typically requires a minimum of 20-40 millilitres of breast milk at least 10-12 times a day. So, when Selva’s child’s needs were successfully met, the NICU doctors asked her if they could feed other such infants with her excess milk. Realising how life-saving breast milk can be, Selva instantly agreed. This sparked a deep urge in her to help other premature and sick newborn babies.

Government platforms like India Book of Awards and Asia Book of Records recognised Selva’s dedication and contribution in saving the lives of several infants. Now, both platforms have certified Selva Brindha as a record-breaking breast milk donor. While the cause inspired Selva, the breast milk donation process wasn’t as easy as one might think. In an interview with The Federal, Selva talked about her journey of breast milk donation.

Selva Brindha’s journey of breast milk donation

“The journey is not just about donating breast milk. We have to pump the milk and change it into packets. We have to clean the bottles and sterilise them. There are many processes like that,” Selva explains. She also shared that she wasn’t alone in this process, as her family supported her throughout. “At every stage, I’d even do it late at night. We have to clean and use the breast milk pump properly next time. My husband, mother-in-law and uncle helped me at every step. I was able to extend it smoothly for two years,” Selva says.

Selva’s story is inspiring, but it also highlights the underdiscussed nature of breast milk donation in India. Blood and organ donation campaigns are relatively common. But several people are unaware of the role of breast milk donation in neonatal survival.

Why breast milk matters for newborns

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), for every newborn baby, especially a premature one, breast milk is the ideal food. It’s safe, hygienic, easy to digest, and contains antibodies which are necessary for infants to combat common childhood diseases. Breast milk also prevents serious health complications and infections in high-risk infants. As reported by UNICEF, nearly 3.5 million babies in India are born too early. Among these, almost 41 per cent cases recorded early initiation of breastfeeding to prevent newborn deaths. The remaining per cent reflects a lack of awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and breast milk banks among mothers and their families.

Selva Brindha has set a new record by donating the maximum breast milk, but is she the only one in the field? Several women in the recent past have contributed to the cause. They have also inspired other lactating mothers to help high-risk newborns in Asia. In 2023, the India Book of Records felicitated Thamarai Selvi Rajendran of Chengalpattu for donating 154.04 litres of breast milk over 10 months. In 2022, it was Coimbatore’s Srividya K, who donated 159.98 litres of breast milk over 10 months.

Related: Breast Milk Donation In India: Why It’s Important And How To Do It