Banking on Breastmilk

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What do these babies have in common?  They're alive and healthy today thanks in a large part to having received human breastmilk from the Mothers' Milk Bank of Denver, Colorado, one of only 7 distributing milk banks in North America. 

Readers of this website will know how strongly we feel about the almost magical qualities of breastmilk, as has been verified in countless medical studies and by millions of children.  (Unclear of the benefits of breastmilk?  Click Here).  We may forget that for some babies, receiving breastmilk isn't just a good nutrition and mothering choice, it may be a question of life or death. 

Milk banks exist because many babies will not thrive without human milk.  Infants with failure to thrive (FTT), formula intolerance, allergies and certain other medical conditions may require real human milk for health and even for survival. 

Ideally, this breastmilk will come from the baby's mother, but this is not always possible.  For mothers with adopted children, with insufficient milk glands, past breast surgery or cancer, breastfeeding may not be an option.  Among other situations, mothers with premature infants may not be able to get lactation going quickly enough to meet the needs of  their fragile babies.  For all these babies, donated human milk arriving in little clear bottles from one of the 7 donor milk banks is a precious gift indeed.

Does My Baby Need Donor Milk?

Here is where it pays to be informed, because many doctors are not even aware that human milk banks exist, and so many children that could benefit from donor milk don't get it.  A typical candidate for donor breastmilk might be a formula-fed infant that exhibits prolonged episodes of inconsolable crying, ongoing vomiting and classic allergy signs such as purple or black circles under the eyes, pallor, skin inflammation, lethargy and frequent or bloody stools.  Another typical candidate might be a premature infant whose mother cannot (or cannot yet) supply breastmilk. 

However, human milk is used to treat many conditions that your baby might suffer from.   For a partially complete list of the uses of donor breastmilk, click here.  If you think that your baby might benefit from donor human milk, contact one of the Milk Banks listed below and your doctor. 

How Do I Get Donor Breastmilk?

You need a doctor's prescription to receive donor milk, and each recipient of donor milk needs to be under medical supervision.  After everything is set up, you can pick up donor milk at your local milk bank, or have it shipped directly to you.  You do not need to live near a milk bank to receive donor milk. 

Is Donor Breastmilk Safe?

All donor mothers are carefully screened.  They must be non-smokers, taking no medications, in good health and have breastmilk in excess of their own babies needs.  In addition, they must have negative blood tests for Hepatitus B and C, HIV 1 and 2, and HTLV 1 and 2.  Donors must receive physicians consent to donate, and must also provide evidence of immunity to rubella, a negative syphilis test and provide their TB and herpes history.  Donors receive detailed instructions in the hygenic collection and handling of milk.  You have to be serious about helping others to be a donor!

Once the donor milk arrives at the milk bank, it is pasteurized.  The pasteurization process destroys both CMV and HIV viruses while retaining most of the nutritional and allergy protection benefits.  After pasteurization the milk is tested for bacteria.  

How Much Does it Cost?

Milk banks charge a fee to help offset the cost of processing donor breastmilk (the fee only covers about 60% of the cost).  The Mothers' Milk Bank of Denver, Colorado charges $2.25/ounce plus $0.25/ounce if shipped.  Other milk banks may charge somewhat different fees.

Donor milk from a milk bank is covered by some medical insurance policies. (If you control which insurance plan your company uses, here's a good question to ask them!)  WIC clients are eligible for coverage, and no baby is refused for inability to pay.

Donating Breastmilk to Needy Babies

Do you have breastmilk to spare?  Are you interested in giving your excess breastmilk to a child that may be crying in need right now?   Contact one of the milk banks below and find out how you can donate.  Donors don't receive any fees (although some of the costs are covered) but they do receive the knowledge that they are helping a needy baby in the most personal, direct way possible.  

What is involved?  From the above ("Is Donor Breastmilk Safe?") you probably guessed that there is a blood  test involved.  The blood test is free of charge, as are the donating bottles.  You will have to supply a medical history, and receive the consent of your doctor and your babies doctor.  For a close-up of the process of hygenically collecting and storing your breastmilk, click on:
 

Collection and Storage of Breastmilk

Procedures vary somewhat between milk banks.  Contact the milk bank of your choice to find out more.

Is Breastmilk Only for Babies?

While certainly the vast majority of breastmilk is used to benefit babies and young children, donated breastmilk is presently being used to lessen infections among adults who have undergone liver transplants, with very good results. Other important medical uses for this magical substance are being investigated.

Breastfeeding.com would like to thank Director Laraine Lockhart-Borman and the staff of the Mothers' Milk Bank of Denver Colorado for their help and dedication.  Much of this article was produced using materials provided by them, particularly "Donor Human Milk" by Mary Tagge, RN, BSN, IBCLC, from which we shamelessly stole entire paragraphs.



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