how to donate breast milk to hospitals

Milk banks don’t charge hospitals, except for basic fees that cover the cost of processing, pasteurizing and transporting the milk, as well as blood tests and screenings for the donors. The benefits of breast milk aren’t just for sick or premature babies, of course.

Full Answer

How do I Sell my Breast milk to a hospital?

215-590-4442. Contact Us Online. Thank you for considering donating your milk! You have the opportunity to help other babies whose mothers cannot make milk. It’s a precious gift. You will need to follow procedures carefully to keep your milk safe for babies that will receive it.

Should women be paid for donating their breast milk?

If breast milk is not readily supplied by a mother, a hospital can order pasteurized human donor milk (PHDM) from a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) certified milk bank. Here's some important details to know about HMBANA-accredited milk banks: They are non-profit. Milk is donated and donors are not paid.

Why is it important to donate breast milk?

Donate Your Excess Breast Milk We are always looking for donations to provide human milk to babies in need HOW IT WORKS 4 Easy Steps to Becoming a Donor SCREENING CALL A telephone screening to establish that you meet the basic criteria to become a milk donor. This takes about 15 minutes or so to complete. Call us at 212.956.MILK (6455).

What is the process for Donating breast milk?

Feb 16, 2021 · You have choices about how to get your milk out to babies other than your own, including selling it or giving it away online. But if your aim is to help the babies most in need, Kelley suggests...

What disqualifies you from donating breastmilk?

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.Jun 23, 2021

Do hospitals take breast milk?

If breast milk is not readily supplied by a mother, a hospital can order pasteurized human donor milk (PHDM) from a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) certified milk bank.

How do you donate breast milk to the NICU?

You can reach them at 1.877. 375.6645 (option 4 for Spanish) or via email at [email protected]. You may also visit the University of California Health Milk Bank at https://uchealth.service-now.com/csp for more information and to become a donor.

How much is donor breast milk worth?

You can sell your breast milk for anywhere between $2 and $2.50 per ounce, on average, but this number can be even higher in some cases. The average baby drinks about 25 ounces of breast milk every day, and some babies drink even more.Jul 10, 2020

Can I donate breast milk if I take medication?

Donors are allowed to take a variety of medications (OTC and prescribed) and vitamins but must refrain from smoking, consuming alcohol daily or taking herbal supplements.

Should I donate my breast milk?

Based on the research, donating breast milk may benefit premature babies a little, and a little advantage can mean everything to parents who are worried about their child.Jul 25, 2017

Is donor breast milk good for premature babies?

Many studies have shown that premature babies – especially those born earlier than 30 weeks – who are fed breast milk have better outcomes. We see less risk of infection while they're in the hospital and fewer incidents of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which can be a devastating intestinal disease.Aug 2, 2016

How is donated breast milk processed?

How is donor milk processed? Frozen donated milk is thawed, nutritionally analyzed, cultured for bacteria, pooled for nutrient standardization, and poured into bottles, then pasteurized at 62.5 C in a shaking water bath or automatic pasteurizer. Pasteurized milk is quick-cooled, then frozen at -20'C.

How long is donor milk good for?

Donor human milk may be used for up to 48 hours after defrosting if kept in the refrigerator. Fortified donor milk must be used within 24 hours. 6.

How much is an Oz of breastmilk worth?

The asking price on Only the Breast runs $1 to $2.50 an ounce. (A 6-month-old baby consumes about 30 ounces a day.)May 17, 2011

Can you sell breast milk legally?

"While food hygiene regulations cannot prohibit the sale or supply of human breast milk, retailers or websites supplying or selling breast milk products will need to ensure they are safe for consumption."Oct 12, 2015

Is donor milk covered by insurance?

Pasteurized donor milk could help those babies, but it's often not covered by either private or public insurance. And buying donor milk without insurance can easily cost thousands of dollars a month. That leaves many newborns, especially those in low-income families, without access.Oct 4, 2016

Why is breast milk important?

Breast milk is precious to all infants’ survival and continued health, especially premature and sick babies. Moms who have trouble providing breast milk to their babies can seek the next best alternative: another mom’s milk that was donated and pasteurized by an accredited milk bank. Mamas may consider donor breast milk when faced ...

What is milk sharing?

Milk sharing is giving or using donor breast milk when a mom has trouble producing milk. Typically, we are referring to mothers’ expressed donor milk, however directly breastfeeding another mother’s baby (wet-nursing) is also a method of milk sharing. The three most common types of Milk Sharing in the U.S. today are:

What are milk banks?

Milk from milk banks are prioritized for: 1 Hospital needs: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU’s), supplemental milk for babies whose moms aren’t fully lactating, ill infants, infants of mothers who are ill. 2 Infants in the home with medical conditions related to prematurity and feeding intolerance. 3 When possible, healthy babies whose mothers are unable to provide breast milk for a reason other than a medical condition. 4 Some milk is used for research purposes, and some milk is also given to adults with health problems (such as cancer) who are prescribed breast milk as part of their treatment.

What is NICU in hospitals?

Hospital needs: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU’s), supplemental milk for babies whose moms aren’t fully lactating, ill infants, infants of mothers who are ill. Infants in the home with medical conditions related to prematurity and feeding intolerance.

What is a wet nurse?

Wet Nursing: A wet nurse is a woman who directly breastfeeds another woman’s child. Wet nurses are employed when the mother is unable or elects not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as “milk-siblings,” and in some cultures the families are linked by a special relationship of milk kinship.

Is breast milk the same as breastfeeding?

Although donor breast milk is the best alternative for feeding babies, it does not have all the same benefits of breastfeeding. Breast milk changes every day to meet the changing needs of your baby based on age.

How to become a milk donor?

4 Easy Steps to Becoming a Donor 1 SCREENING CALL#N#A telephone screening to establish that you meet the basic criteria to become a milk donor. This takes about 15 minutes or so to complete. Call us at 212.956.MILK (6455). 2 LIFESTYLE AND HISTORY REVIEW#N#Complete a written health and lifestyle application, consent forms, and medical releases we can email you or send you via the USPS 3 MEDICAL CLEARANCE#N#Have your and your baby’s provider complete the medical releases. We can fax these releases for you or you can contact them yourself. 4 FREE BLOOD TEST#N#Once we have your completed forms and blood test results, we will contact you to arrange how you can get your milk to us.

How long does it take to become a milk donor?

A telephone screening to establish that you meet the basic criteria to become a milk donor. This takes about 15 minutes or so to complete. Call us at 212.956.MILK (6455). Have your and your baby’s provider complete the medical releases.

What are the requirements for a donor?

Our donors meet the following basic requirements: In good health and able to breastfeed, with a surplus of milk. No use of nicotine products or regular use of milk enhancing herbs, including fenugreek or blessed thistle. Minimal use of medications.

What To Do With All That Extra Breast Milk?

I started pumping at about four weeks postpartum to build my freezer “stash.” It became almost an obsession to squeeze out those last few drops after each nursing session, or to fit in a pump during my baby’s longest sleep stretch.

Where Can I Donate Breast Milk?

The following are four of the most legitimate ways to donate breast milk. Some have screening processes, some take a more DIY approach.

Can You Sell Breast Milk?

Online breast milk classifieds have popped up as a way for mothers with extra milk to sell to those who are looking to buy. One such example is onlythebreast.com — though I have not personally used this platform.