In 2023, Spain recorded 320,656 births, of which 21,322 were premature, according to the National Statistics Institute. That figure represents 6.6% of all births, meaning that 1 in every 15 newborns is premature and requires specialized care, with nutrition playing a critical role.

Human milk banks (HMBs) have become the cornerstone of neonatal care in Spain. The first facility opened in 2001 in Palma de Mallorca, followed by a second in 2007 at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid, Spain.

The network has since expanded to 22 centers across Spain, operating within blood and tissue banks, neonatology departments, and personalized nutrition units.

A 2023 report from the Spanish Association of Human Milk Banks reported record growth in Spain, with several key measures, includin

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