How do I find a milk bank?

​Many Baby Cafés either have their own Milk Depot or are connected to a Milk Bank. Check the list of milk banks on HMBANA.org, the website of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, which accredits nonprofit milk banks. Find the nearest one here. Or ask the Baby Café leader and she can help you.

How do I get approved as a donor?

The process is similar to screening for blood donation, and involves the following steps:

• Brief phone screening
• Consents and medical history form (including approval by mother’s and baby’s healthcare providers)
• Free blood draw (does not go through mom’s insurance)

 
There is no cost to you at any point. Some milk banks have a minimum donation of milk required throughout the donation period (check with milk bank they plan to donate with). Bereaved mothers may also donate, and in these cases the minimum donation amount is waived, or there is a research option if you don’t meet eligibility criteria (most often due to medications). To start the process,  call the milk bank of your choice.

What if English is not my native language

​Some milk banks are able to screen moms who speak other languages. Check with each milk bank for details. You can call a different milk bank if the first one does not offer the language you speak.

Can I donate milk that’s already in my freezer?

Yes. Milk banks have different guidelines about how long milk can be stored in the freezer before it is sent to the milk bank. All milk must be in containers specifically for milk storage (milk storage bags, bottles from NICU, etc.) and must be dated with the month/day/year.

Does it matter how old my baby is?

Check with the specific milk bank you plan to donate to, as the baby’s age varies depending on the individual milk bank.  

How does the milk get to the milk bank?

Milk banks have drop off sites in different communities, some are Baby Cafés. Banks can also send boxes for donors to[SS1]  pack up their milk and ship it via overnight shipping, at no charge to the donor; in some regions this involves dry ice, but not in others. Some milk banks even have milk drives. Check with each milk bank for details on how to get milk to the milk bank. There is never a cost for the donor to ship the milk, the milk banks pay for all costs involved in shipping milk. 

Can I take medications or herbal preparations when I am donating?

Some common medications are fine, and most herbs are not (because of lack of regulation and quality control, as well as potential side effects in premature babies). A donor should discuss her individual situation with the trained milk bank staff member who screens her. Many medications and herbs that are fine for donor mom’s own healthy, full-term baby are problematic for premature babies, who may be taking their own medications. ​

Do milk banks pay for milk?

​HMBANA’s ethical guidelines prohibit payment to milk donors. Donors donate milk altruistically and are never pressured to donate. This helps ensure that the health of the donor mother and baby take top priority, and that the donor mother has no incentive to tamper with her milk. 

Who receives the milk?

​Pasteurized donor human milk can save the lives of fragile and premature babies whose mothers do not have enough milk for them. These babies are the top priority for HMBANA milk banks, which is why donor screening is rigorous.
 
Many hospitals in the United States provide donor milk in their neonatal intensive care units for fragile babies. An increasing number of hospitals with special care nurseries and mother-baby units also provide donor milk as a short-term bridge to babies who need supplementation in the early days. Some milk banks also provide milk to outpatients by prescription.

Is the milk free?

​Nonprofits, like hospitals and colleges, charge fees for their services. The same is true for milk banks, which incur high costs screening donors and operating laboratories. When a baby falls under a hospital’s guidelines, the hospital covers the cost of the milk. In many states, advocates are working to secure Medicaid coverage. Occasionally an insurance company will cover the cost of milk.

How can I learn more?

Contact the staff at your closest HMBANA milk bank! Find the nearest one here.
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