Question: Is a special diet necessary for the lactating mother? Is there anything particularly harmful?
It is not necessary for a lactating mother to have a special diet. An ordinary, middle-class vegetarian meal with the daily consumption of 3 glasses of milk is good for the health of both, the feeding mother and her sucking infant. Various communities all over the world are rife with superstitions and beliefs regarding food requirements of delivery and breast feeding — avoid sour food, take less ghee, take more ghee, avoid cold drinks and many others. Certain substances in the mother’s diet enter the milk and thereby reach the child’s stomach. Keeping this in mind, it is beneficial to take dill seeds, bishopweed seeds, garlic and dry ginger over and above regular meals. These, indirectly exert a good influence on the child as well.
Any food which causes indigestion and gas or does not suit the mother’s system may, similarly affect the child and, cause diarrhea, stomach ache, cold and other ailments.
In short, a routine, square meal with fair amounts of pulses and vegetables, in addition to adequate consumption of milk ensure proper lactation and prevents weakness. It is the practice in many families to give porridge, gruel and similar preparations to the feeding mother. It’s fine to take these if possible. Remember, any medicine taken is going to reach the child in greater or lesser proportion and should not be taken without medical advice.

Question: What is meant by a milk bank?
It is the practice in many hospitals to store excess breast milk in sterilized glass bottles and preserve it in a refrigerator.
A mother who has delivered a still-born child may add her milk to this store. Mothers who need to extract excess milk before feeding the child so as to prevent hardening and engorgement of the breasts may also similarly donate the extra milk. Just as extra money is saved in the bank, so extra milk may be stored in a milk bank.
A mother who does not lactate satisfactorily or is in a serious condition following a Caesarean or for any other reason, or has undergone sterilization surgery simultaneously with the delivery could, instead of taking recourse to top milk (cow milk, buffalo milk or milk powders) give human milk stored in the “bank”. This milk can also be given to premature babies or very weak infants who need to be tube-fed.