Many breastfeeding mothers produce more breast milk than their infants need. Breast milk donation may be an option that can allow them to help babies in need.
Breast milk is the ideal choice for feeding your baby, but some mothers are unable to produce enough milk to meet their infants' needs due to personal health issues or pre-existing genetic problems. Preemies have a special need for human breast milk and many are unable to thrive on synthetic formula. Mothers who are able to produce enough breast milk to feed their babies are often able to donate extra breast milk to babies in need.
Is Breast Milk Donation Right for You?
Many mothers who feel strongly about the importance of breastfeeding are more than willing to share their extra breast milk with mothers who are not able to supply their babies with their own breast milk. Breastfeeding mothers can donate expressed breast milk to babies in need through private donation or through a milk bank. Each donation avenue has its own policy regarding milk donation and distribution. Each breastfeeding mother considering milk donation should carefully consider which option works best for her individual needs.
Health Concerns with Milk Donations
Breast milk donation is a safe process if the right precautions are taken. Because some diseases such as HIV and hepatitis can be passed on to an infant through breast milk, it is important that donors are screened before they begin donating milk. Recipients of donor milk should take the responsibility for making sure their milk donors have been screened for potentially problematic health issues and life style choices, before giving donated breast milk to their infants. Home pasteurization equipment can be purchased for families who plan on accepting donated milk. Larger milk banks generally provide pasteurization services before releasing donated milk.
Options for Milk Donation
Milk donation is a personal choice and it can be done in a number of different ways. Local donation is often the easiest way to go if it is an option in your area. Some hospitals have their own milk donation programs and may be a good choice for a local program. Local La Leche Leagues and midwife groups may have information on other local milk donations centers and could answer questions about the milk donation process.
Larger milk banks accept donated breast milk from locations all over the country. Milk banks generally pay for the screening process, milk collection supplies, and shipping costs. The National Milk Bank provides a free breast pump for qualified milk donors to use. Before donating to a milk bank be sure that you are satisfied with their policy on finding a home for your breast milk. Some milk banks donate a portion of collected breast milk to babies in need, while others sell donated breast milk at a very high cost to needy infants.
Private donation allows you to have more control over where your donated breast milk ends up. Milk Share links families in need of breast milk with potential milk donors. Private donation requires that you take a more active part in the screening and selection process. Participating in private milk donation allows you to donate breast milk to mothers who are unable to provide their own infants with breast milk without them having to pay the high cost associated with obtaining donated breast milk from milk banks.
Additional Information on Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding and the Workforce
Expressing Breast Milk at Work
