Why use donor milk?
Infants benefit significantly from an exclusive breast milk diet, especially those who are premature, ill, or have life-threatening conditions. When a mother cannot provide enough of her own milk, human donor milk is the next best option. Donated breast milk is easily digested and can help the baby’s digestive tract to mature. It provides lifelong benefits, contains antibodies and immune properties that help protect your baby from infection.
Who receives pasteurized donor human milk?
Donor milk is available for short-term, temporary supplementation needs during the first month of an infant’s life or other special situations.
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NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) babies
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Adopted babies
Foster babies
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Surrogate babies
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Premature babies
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Insufficient lactation of mother
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Formula intolerant
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Immunological deficiencies
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Post-operation nutrition
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Illness or health risk from biological mother that requires interruptions in feedings
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Absence of mother
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Any medical need for supplementation
Where does donor milk come from?
Like blood donors, milk donors come from all backgrounds. Some mothers have too much milk and like to help others. Sometimes a mother whose baby has passed away might donate milk to help her get through her loss by helping other babies.
The OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank follows strict guidelines to ensure the safety of banked human milk.
Donated milk is accepted from:
- Healthy, non-smoking women
- Mothers who have passed a medical, dietary and lifestyle screening
- Mothers who have a negative blood test of HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B and C and syphilis.
The pasteurized, frozen milk must have a negative bacteriological culture before it is dispensed.
How to receive donor milk.
- See your doctor or your infant’s doctor and have them fill out a banked donor breast milk order form.
- Contact us at 419-557-7596 7 days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fax the order from to 419-557-6006.
How to become a donor
When you donate your extra breast milk, you become a beacon of hope for families in need. Erie County WIC serves as the local screening and drop off location. To be approved or for further questions, call (614) 556-0630 or email MilkBank@OhioHealth.com.
