HF 609

Donor Breast Milk and Informal Breast Milk Sharing

Human milk has many benefits. It helps to fight infections. It’s the ideal food for babies. It is also easy for babies to digest.

Donor Human Milk

Donor human milk is milk that is not from the child’s parent(s). There are 2 types of donor milk:

  • Banked human milk is milk from a certified milk bank.

  • Informal shared human milk is milk from a source that is not a certified milk bank.

Certified Milk Bank

Pros:

  • It is pasteurized which kills harmful bacteria.

  • The donors follow many steps such as:

    • Health screening

    • Health history

    • Blood test

    • Medicine history

    • Agree to only take medicine from an approved list

  • Milk is safely collected, stored, and transported.

  • Milk from many donors is mixed. This diversifies the nutritional elements and lowers the risk of being exposed to harmful components.

Cons:

  • It is expensive.

  • It may not be covered by insurance.

  • Supply may be limited.

  • Pasteurization kills good bacteria and antibodies but is important for safety.
    Informal Shared Human Milk

Pros:

  • The milk may be easier to find than milk from a certified milk bank.

  • It will contain helpful antibodies from the donor.

Cons:

  • The milk is likely not pasteurized.

  • There have been reports of milk diluted with cow’s milk, water, and infant formula when milk has been purchased through websites like Facebook, Craigslist, or eBay.

  • It may not be safely collected or stored.

  • Donors may not be screened.

Rules for Informal Human Milk Sharing

There are no formal rules. We suggest that you ask your care team. Discuss risks, benefits, and other options. Research options from the list at the end of this handout.

Check the donor’s health and lifestyle, even if they are someone you know. Ask your donor to have their blood tested or request a copy of their recent blood tests. Ask all donors to follow the guidelines to safely collect and store breast milk at the end of this handout.

Avoid choosing a donor from websites like Facebook, Craigslist, or eBay. Avoid donors who ask for payment.

Although the FDA, USDA, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against informal breast milk sharing, this may be your preferred option. If so, please work with your health care team to know the benefits and risks. To find out more about the benefits and risks, check out:

  • Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine http://www.bfmed.org/ See statement on informal milk sharing.

  • American Academy of Pediatrics https://www.aap.org/.

How to Safely Collect and Store Human Milk

  • Wash and dry your hands before pumping and any time you touch your pump parts.

  • Pump and store milk in BPA free bottles or milk storage bags.

  • Label each bottle or bag with the date and time it was pumped.

  • Store it in the back of your fridge where it is coldest. Milk may be kept in the fridge for up 4 days from the time it was pumped. If the milk will not be used by that time, freeze it.

  • Human milk expands when it freezes so, leave ½ inch of space at the top of the bag or bottle. Freeze milk in the back of the freezer where it is the coldest. It may be frozen for up to 12 months in a stand-alone freezer and up to 6 months in a freezer attached to a fridge.

Cleaning Pump Parts

  • Wash and dry your hands.

  • Separate each part that touches milk.

  • Rinse each piece that touches milk and then wash it in warm, soapy water. Use unscented dish soap and avoid antibacterial soaps and wipes.

  • After washing, rinse each part and place it on a clean, dry towel.

  • You may also wash your rinsed pieces in the top rack of your dishwasher.

  • Check pump tubing for moisture and mold. If mold is present, replace with new tubing.

Resources

Certified Donor Human Milk Banks
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America
https://www.hmbana.org/

Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes
http://www.milkbankwgl.org/

Informal Human Milk Sharing Resources
Madison Area Donor Milk Alliance
https://www.madmilkalliance.org/

Eats on Feets
http://www.eatsonfeets.org/

Who to Call

If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below.

Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH)
(608) 890-5500

Nutrition clinics for UW Medical Foundation (UWMF)
(608) 287-2770

You can also visit our website at: www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.