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Donating breast milk is a terrific means of sharing an important resource to premature, ill or orphaned infants around the world. Because breastfeeding is so critical to infant health—it's now recommended that infants are breast fed for at least the first six months of life—it's more important than ever to donate excess breast milk.
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Breast Milk Donation Tips
- Make sure you fit the donor profile: are disease-free, don't smoke or drink, are currently breastfeeding.
- Start the application process online to determine if you will be able to donate.
- Store excess milk in your freezer until collection time.
- If you've had a baby pass away, you can still donate breast milk, and there are programs set up specifically for these moms.
- Breast milk banks will distribute your breast milk to infants who are premature or critically ill; they may even send your milk to babies in Africa whose mothers aren't able to breastfeed.
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Step 1: Determine if You Qualify
- Donating breast milk will certainly help other newborn babies, whether locally or in other parts of the world, but you need to make sure you are a proper candidate for donation.
- You will need to fill out an application to apply to be a donor wherever you choose to donate.
- You will also need to take a blood test, if your application is approved, to rule out diseases like HIV, infectious Hepatitis and other communicable diseases.
- In general, you will qualify if:
- You are currently lactating and in good health
- You are not a smoker or user of drugs or alcohol
- You are breastfeeding a child who is healthy and gaining weight normally
- You have no history of cancer
- You do not take any medications regularly, including insulin for diabetesInternational Breast Milk Project: Donor Guidelines
- You may also need a recommendation from your doctor, who can verify your medical records.National Milk Bank: Donor Screening and Process
- Women who have lost children have also been able to donate breast milk, an action that has helped many grieving mothers feel that their children were able to help others in need.Time: Putting Breast Milk to Good Use
Step 2: Locate a Milk Bank
- There are increasingly more milk banks around the country, so you'll need to do a little research to find the right one.WebMD: Donating Nourishment
- Two highly profiled milk banks include:
- International Breast Milk Project, which has donated over 85,000 pounds of breast milk to infants in Africa and also donates significantly to critically ill infants in the United States.International Breast Milk Project: International Breast Milk Project
- Take IBMP's online interview to get started.
- Also check out their page of frequently asked questions to learn more about the collection process—which includes free shipment of coolers to your door and pickup, too.
- International Breast Milk Project, which has donated over 85,000 pounds of breast milk to infants in Africa and also donates significantly to critically ill infants in the United States.International Breast Milk Project: International Breast Milk Project
- National Milk Bank, which donates breast milk nationally to babies who are premature or critically sick.National Milk Bank: National Milk Bank
- Call the National Milk Bank at 1-866-522-MILK to talk about donating near you.
- And complete their online application to get started, which will take about ten minutes to finish.
- National Milk Bank, which donates breast milk nationally to babies who are premature or critically sick.National Milk Bank: National Milk Bank
- If neither of these milk banks is right for you, check with your doctor to help find a local breast milk bank that you feel comfortable using.
Step 3: Additional Considerations
- While donating breast milk is not only crucial to developing infants everywhere, you'll need to keep a few things in mind before doing so.
- If you deliver a stillborn baby prematurely, you can donate milk. In fact, "preemie" milk can be extremely valuable to other prematurely born infants.WebMD: Donating Nourishment
- If you've given birth to a baby who has passed away, contact the Madison Cassady Program, which through the International Breast Milk Project will personally help you through the donation process. You can write an email message to robin@breastmilkproject.org to get started.International Breast Milk Project: Madison Cassady Program
- And there are benefits for nursing mothers, too, including speedier return to pre-baby weight, lower risk of anemia, and of course the inspiring knowledge you've helped a child, and often another mother, in need.National Milk Bank: Benefit for Donors
- Remember that it's not only critically ill children who need breast milk; babies who've been adopted may need breast milk. Some mothers, due to medications they take or prior medical history, may be unable to breast feed and will be grateful for donations via milk banks.WebMD: Donating Nourishment
- To learn more about how to breast feed in general, as well as find support groups and associated content, see Mahalo's page: Breastfeeding.
Conclusion
- If you have any questions about how to donate breast milk, try contacting either the International Breast Milk Project or the National Milk Bank, both of which have staff on hand to guide you through the process of donating breast milk, a valuable resource for new babies—your excess breast milk could help ward off diseases and protect infants from future illness.
