Frequently Asked Questions
General
Human milk is scientifically-proven to be the most ideal nutrition for babies in their first year of life, supporting growth and development as it protects against diseases, infections, allergies, sickness, and obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) all recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies for their first six months of life. Of course, breastfeeding is not always possible for all families, and that’s where milk banks come in.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), less than half of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed, which means that more than half of the infant population needs donor milk to have the best possible chance at fighting disease, infection, allergies, sickness, and more. Every ounce of donated milk saves lives, strengthens babies’ immune systems, and is scientifically-proven to support growth and development from day one.
More than 300,000 infants require advanced medical care in neonatal intensive care units in the United States each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. The number is on the rise–more babies are born prematurely and at younger gestational ages now than ever before. Because of their premature birth, many of these babies are already at risk for infections, delays, and digestion issues. When a parent is unable to breastfeed or provide human milk on their own, donor milk helps to improve these outcomes. As a licensed tissue bank, Mothers’ Milk Bank California is one of the few milk banks that can partner with hospitals to provide donor milk in full compliance.
A Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) member milk bank “collects breast milk from mothers who have more than their babies need, then screens, pasteurizes, and tests it, and, finally, dispenses it to premature and fragile infants in need, either in hospitals or homes. HMBANA milk banks are nonprofit operations that follow internationally-recognized guidelines for pasteurized donor human milk. Mothers donate their milk altruistically and hospitals and outpatient recipient families pay a processing fee which is then reinvested back into the operations of the milk bank.”
The use of human donor milk is safe if it is secured, tested, pasteurized, and stored according to the guidelines set forth by Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). As a charter member of HMBANA, Mothers’ Milk Bank California’s process is the gold standard for safe human milk donation. There are health and safety risks for the baby if the milk is secured outside of HMBANA/Mothers’ Milk Bank California standards.
Informally sharing milk among family members or friends without involving a human milk bank is an act of caring and kindness, but can present risks for the baby. Unregulated and untested milk can carry bacteria, diseases, drugs, or medication that can be unsafe for infant consumption. The integrity of the milk’s components can also be altered by repeated freezing and thawing cycles. Mothers’ Milk Bank California does not endorse the sharing or selling of human milk outside of HMBANA/Mothers’ Milk Bank California standards. Please get in touch if you need help securing safe human milk for your baby.
As a community-supported nonprofit organization, we rely on generous charitable donations from individuals and philanthropic partners to make human milk accessible and available to all babies. Your generous gift helps provide lifesaving milk to premature and medically-fragile babies, while helping us grow our program, feed more babies, recruit more milk donors, and ensure the safety and quality of donor milk. It also helps support our community outreach and education programs. We invite you to learn more about helping our mission today.
Human milk donation fulfills a vital role in keeping babies safe and thriving, and is a lifesaving gift for those who need it. We fully recognize that the donation process might feel complicated or lengthy to some, but we have spent decades evolving our process to make every step as easy as possible for donors, recipients, and healthcare providers. From the initial screening and paperwork to safe storage, critical steps must be taken to be able to guarantee safe milk for infant consumption.
If you are a parent, caregiver, or healthcare provider looking for donor human milk for a baby in need, please fill out this short questionnaire to get started.
For Milk Donors
When it comes to the health and wellbeing of babies, human milk is the ideal food. It’s packed with nutrients and antibodies, contains just the right amount of calories and fluids, and helps protect against diseases and serious complications. Whether it’s stomach bugs and ear infections or asthma and diabetes, medical experts say that babies should be fed human milk exclusively for the first six months of life to get the best possible health outcomes. But according to the World Health Organization (WHO), less than half of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed.
That’s where milk banks come in. Every ounce of donated milk saves lives, strengthens babies’ immune systems, and is scientifically-proven to support growth and development from day one. We’re here to support you every step of the way as you give this meaningful, life-saving gift. Get started today.
Thank you for your consideration! We ask that you collect at least 100 ounces of extra milk for donation; and then get started by filling out this form or calling us at 1(877) 375-6645 (option 3).
We are so very sorry for your loss. Please know that we are here to help you with resources and support, as well as to help you find healing in this process of donating your milk to babies in need if that is what you choose to do. You can also make the choice to have your milk donated to scientific research to help advance the industry and provide information about human milk. There is no minimum requirement for donation after the loss of a child. Please reach out to us for support and to begin the process when you are ready.
Once your milk arrives at our facility, it gets sorted, tested for bacteria, batched with other donors’ milk to create a uniform batch of donor milk, pasteurized, and then tested once again for bacteria. It is stored safely until it’s shipped to families and hospitals nationwide.
Follow us on Instagram to see videos and photos of our milk processing and storing!
If you are a mother experiencing loss of your baby, there is no minimum amount of milk required to donate. If we’re unable to give it to babies in need for any reason, it will be used for scientific research in our labs. If you are a mother pumping extra milk that your own baby doesn’t need, we ask for a minimum of 100 ounces of milk before you begin donation.
While HMBANA-accredited milk bank donors are screened for use of certain prescription medications and illegal drugs, many medications are still safe to take while pumping or breastfeeding (such as allergy nasal sprays, birth control, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and more). We will gain a better understanding of any substances in your milk during the donor screening process.
There is no cost to being a milk donor. Mothers’ Milk Bank California covers 100% of the costs associated with donating, including your blood work, packaging and shipping your milk, and making sure it’s safe for all babies.
We do not compensate donors financially for milk. We do our best to provide you with quality service and support, and to celebrate the lifesaving gift that you are giving. We provide free replacement breastmilk storage bags to approved donors upon request.
You can donate your milk for as long as you are continuously lactating from the same pregnancy. Please remain in contact with Mothers’ Milk Bank California throughout your collecting journey to keep us informed of any changes to your health or use of vitamins, medication, and supplements.
Once your milk is lovingly pumped, we make it as easy as possible to ship it to the milk bank by providing storage bags, shipping containers, and shipping fees all at no cost to you. Everything except your blood work can be done from the comfort of your home. Once it arrives at our facility, your donor milk goes through a thorough intake process, including testing, sorting, labeling, pasteurizing, and safe storage.
All of our donors’ stories are inspiring, uplifting, and will tug at your heartstrings! Read them here.
We’re so grateful for your gift! The process to becoming a donor consists of four steps that ensure your health and safety, and the safety of the milk we’ll be distributing to babies in need:
The process can take anywhere from about one week to one month, depending on several factors. We make every attempt to make the process seamless and efficient for everyone involved. Learn more here.
For Milk Recipients
Chances are, if you are in search of human donor milk for your facility, your baby, or a baby in your care, you are qualified to receive it. Find out more about the process here.
You’ve come to the right place! Read more about the process for requesting milk, and get started today by filling out this short questionnaire. We’ll contact you within 24 hours to get started!
Mothers’ Milk Bank California adheres to the strictest safety standards for human donor milk. As a charter member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), we have helped set the gold standard for the operation of milk banking organizations nationwide. We are committed to safely and effectively obtaining, pasteurizing, and dispensing human donor milk for use in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), medical facilities, and homes, and continue to be a vital resource for infants and families in need nationwide.
Without insurance coverage or reimbursement, milk recipients are responsible for covering the fees associated with the safe handling, pasteurizing, and processing of donor milk in our state-of-the-art facilities. The fees we charge help offset the substantial costs of operation, ensuring that the milk you receive is free of bacteria or other substances that could potentially harm your baby. Mothers’ Milk Bank California does not earn a profit off of these fees. Especially for babies born at risk or at low birth weights, the cost effectiveness and medical benefit of human donor milk is well-established. Please contact your insurance company for coverage benefits, or reach out to our team to learn more.
Any breast milk that comes to Mothers’ Milk Bank California is pasteurized using the Holder method. According to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), this process eliminates potentially harmful bacteria while retaining the majority of human milk’s beneficial nutrients. Milk is then tested for any harmful bacteria leftover from the pasteurization process, and in the rare case that bacteria is present, the milk donor will be notified and the milk will not be given out.
Generally, Mothers’ Milk Bank California will send milk for your baby until they turn one year old, or longer in some cases. If insurance is covering the cost, they will continually evaluate your baby’s health and may decide at some point throughout the first year that human milk is no longer medically necessary.
If you’re ready to receive milk for your hospital or baby, please review the process and get started by filling out the intake form here. Our team will be in touch as soon as possible to get milk sent your way!
Yes! Human milk gives all babies the best possible chance at healthy growth and development from day one. Get started with your request today by reviewing the process and filling out the intake form here. Our team will be in touch as soon as possible to get milk sent your way!
Yes! Human milk gives all babies the best possible chance at healthy growth and development from day one. Get started with your request today by reviewing the process and filling out the intake form here. Our team will be in touch as soon as possible to request a court order, and get milk sent your way!
Yes! Human milk gives all babies the best possible chance at healthy growth and development from day one. Get started with your request today by reviewing the process and filling out the intake form here. Our team will be in touch as soon as possible to get milk sent your way!
Mothers’ Milk Bank California believes that every baby deserves access to safe human milk. We are accredited through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and our screening process follows guidelines in accordance with the American Association of Blood Banks. We carefully select and screen each milk donor with the help of their doctor to be sure they are clear of certain medications, chronic and communicable diseases, or risky behaviors. All donors are tested for HIV, HTLV, RPR, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
For more specifies regarding our Donor Screening process, feel free to reach out to our Donor Coordinators at donate@mothersmilk.org
For Healthcare Providers
As a charter member of HMBANA, our process is the gold standard for safe human milk donation. We work in close collaboration with carefully screened and certified donors to gather surplus breast milk. This milk undergoes rigorous testing and quality assurance measures to guarantee its safety and efficacy. We are committed to obtaining, pasteurizing, and dispensing human donor milk for use in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), medical facilities, and homes, and continue to be a vital resource for infants and families in need nationwide. In addition, we work in alliance with, and closely follow the recommendations of our medical director Dr. Rachel Land, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the California Department of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and many other reputable organizations.
If you would like to receive human donor milk at your NICU or hospital, we recommend starting by filling out this form, and we will contact you within 24 hours to begin the process.
We look forward to partnering with you to provide milk for the most vulnerable patients in your care. Please fill out this questionnaire and our medical services lead will get back to you quickly with information and a hospital onboarding packet to start the process.
Place all bottles in the rear of the freezer where it’s cold enough to keep ice cream firm. In the hospital, the freezer should register -20° C (-4°F). Keep milk away from the door where the temperature changes to avoid changes to the quality and safety of the milk.
Clear instructions for safely storing and thawing your supply are included with each milk shipment. Feel free to also refer to this guidance from the CDC.
You can store your breastmilk to keep it fresh for your baby in a number of ways:
Clear instructions for safely storing and thawing your supply are included with each milk shipment. Feel free to also refer to this guidance from the CDC.
Many insurance plans and programs reimburse for medically-necessary human donor milk. Check with your insurance company to find out what their policy is, or get in touch and we can do our best to help you navigate the process according to your personal situation.