How do you get breast milk from a donor?

Understanding the Process of Obtaining Donor Breast Milk
In recent years, the demand for donor breast milk has surged, particularly among parents who may struggle with breastfeeding or those whose infants require specialized nutrition. The process of obtaining breast milk from a donor involves several important steps to ensure safety and quality.
Finding a Donor
The first step in acquiring donor breast milk is identifying a reliable source. Many parents turn to human milk banks, which are organizations that collect, screen, pasteurize, and distribute breast milk. These banks ensure that the milk is safe for consumption by conducting thorough screenings of potential donors. This includes health assessments and blood tests to check for infectious diseases that could be transmitted through milk.
For those who may not have access to a milk bank, informal arrangements can be made with lactating individuals who have an excess supply of milk. However, it is crucial to approach this option with caution. Parents should ensure that the donor is healthy and free from any substances that could harm the baby, such as drugs or alcohol.
The Donation Process
Once a donor is identified, the next step is the actual donation of breast milk. If using a milk bank, donors typically need to follow specific guidelines, which may include:
1. Screening: Donors must complete a health questionnaire and undergo blood tests to rule out any potential health risks.
2. Milk Collection: Donors express their milk using a breast pump, which can be done at home or in a designated facility. It is essential to use clean equipment to prevent contamination.
3. Storage: The expressed milk should be stored in sterilized containers and frozen promptly to maintain its quality. Milk banks often provide specific instructions on how to store and transport the milk.
Receiving Donor Milk
For parents receiving donor milk, especially from a milk bank, the process is straightforward. Once the milk is collected and pasteurized, it is tested for safety and then distributed to families in need. Parents can typically order the milk through the bank’s website or by contacting them directly.
In cases where milk is obtained informally, parents should ensure that the milk is handled safely. This includes verifying the donor’s health status and ensuring that the milk is stored and transported under hygienic conditions.
Conclusion
Obtaining donor breast milk can be a vital resource for many families. Whether through a formal milk bank or an informal donor, the key is to prioritize safety and health to ensure that the milk is suitable for the infant’s needs. As awareness of the benefits of donor milk continues to grow, so too does the importance of understanding the processes involved in its donation and receipt.

How do you get donor breast milk?

Where Can I Get Donor Breast Milk? Safely buying breast milk is possible. The best way is to go through your doctor and have them refer you to an accredited milk bank. When donor human milk is distributed by milk banks, this is typically referred to as “formal milk sharing”.

Can my baby drink donor milk?

The preferred nutrition for the newborn is his/her own mother’s milk. When this is not available or is limited, pasteurized human donor breast milk is a recommended alternative for hospitalized neonates .…

What are the downsides of donor breast milk?

Risks for the baby include exposure to infectious diseases, including HIV, to chemical contaminants, such as some illegal drugs, and to a limited number of prescription drugs that might be in the human milk, if the donor has not been adequately screened.

What happens to donated breast milk?

Donated breast milk is pasteurized to kill any bacteria, it is kept (at least in my facility) in a very cold freezer until thawed and has strict guidelines for expiration times. The mothers who donate have to fill out extensive questionnaires about their diet, health, medications, etc.

How to receive donor breast milk?

Babies at home with a medical need for human milk can get donor human milk if their physician provides a prescription and letter of medical necessity that justifies why human milk is needed. For instructions on obtaining a prescription and letter of medical necessity, click here.

What is the difference between mother’s milk and donor milk?

Maternal milk contains many bioactive factors which are adjusted for the specific needs of her very preterm infant. Pasteurised donor milk contains less nutrients and bioactive factors than maternal milk and does not promote growth, health and development as well.

How is donor milk processed?

How is donor milk processed? Donated milk is collected according to CDC and FDA guidelines. It is then pasteurized (heated to remove bacteria and prevent milk from spoiling), Next, the milk is tested to ensure it is free of bacteria and safe for baby.

What are the rules for donor breast milk?

“The milk collected at home and destined to be donated has to remain at room temperature for the shortest possible time (A*). After each single collection of milk, always in a sterile container, the milk container must be sealed and cooled immediately under running water (A*).”

Do hospitals pay for donor milk?

This fee is paid for by the hospital, not the family, and covers the cost of screening, processing, bottling, testing, labeling, tracking, and overnight shipment of the frozen pasteurized milk. The milk itself is not sold.

What disqualifies you from donating breast milk?

You may be disqualified from donating breast milk if you: Have or are being treated for HIV, HTLV (human T-cell leukemia virus), hepatitis B or C, or syphilis. Have a sexual partner who is at risk for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B or C, or syphilis. Have used recreational drugs within the last year.