The antibodies and active tissue present in breast milk elevate babies' immunity and protect them from infection and other complications, Cao said. It also helps with the development of their visual and nervous systems.

Since 2011, the hospital has been educating parents whose babies are in intensive care about the importance of breast milk and encouraging mothers of hospitalized infants to bring their own breast milk to the hospital.

"We have found that babies fed with breast milk have higher survival rates, lower infection rates and are discharged from the hospital earlier," Cao said.

Huang Guoying, president of the hospital, said the establishment of the milk bank was inspired by a visit to pediatric hospitals in Canada three years ago.

"They had mature milk banks for babies in intensive care," Huang said. "If the babies are fed with infant formula, their parents need to sign an informed consent document. But if they are fed with milk from the breast milk bank, they can drink it freely."

Yuan Li, whose premature baby stayed in the neonatal ICU for two months and was discharged earlier this month, donated more than 20 bags of breast milk to the bank.

"I have enough milk, and I am grateful that I can give some to other babies who are in need of it," she said.

Cao said the breast milk bank was first designed to satisfy the needs of newborns in intensive care - sometimes more than 200 at a time. The hospital plans to extend the service to other babies, such as those who have undergone surgery, to promote recovery.