Your questions about buying donor human milk, answered.
For more information, please visit the buying milk for your baby page.
Mothers’ Milk Bank follows the strict guidelines set forth by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). All of our donors are screened by trained staff members. They also undergo blood testing and must have their health care providers sign forms confirming their medical histories. The milk is pasteurized and tested prior to being dispensed.
While each situation is different, a newborn baby typically consumes about one ounce per feeding, and there are usually around 10-12 feedings in one day. You should always speak with your pediatrician regarding your baby’s nutritional needs. If the mother is simply waiting for her own milk to come in, she might want to just get a few bottles. If it is unlikely that the mother will ever be able to produce enough milk, then the family might want to get a larger amount depending on how long they want the baby to receive human milk.
Mothers’ Milk Bank is open Monday through Friday, so families should always try to get enough to last them through the weekends.
For information on handling the milk in your home, click here.
We can arrange for milk to be delivered by courier or shipped to you overnight. However, we cannot ship to the states of New York or Maryland due to local tissue licensing requirements.
Yes, we keep the milk from donors on dairy-free diets separate for babies that have dairy protein sensitivity. Call us at 303.869.1888 to see if we have any dairy-free milk available.
At this time, Mothers’ Milk Bank cannot bill insurance companies directly. If you want to know whether or not your insurance will reimburse for donor milk, we recommend contacting your insurance company directly.
Donor Human Milk is not returnable after purchase. We ask that you report the receipt of any damaged product within 48-hours of delivery.
Most cultures recognize the value and importance of breastmilk for newborn babies, especially those born prematurely or facing medical challenges. However, some cultural and religious practices are not fully aligned with donating and receiving pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM). At Mothers’ Milk Bank, we fully support every family’s decision regarding donor human milk and respect both the cultural and personal beliefs that underly those decisions.
Of note, in 2023, the first US-based Islamic FATWA was issued supporting the use of PDHM for Muslim infants in the hospital. Learn more about the statement here.