Careful collection and storage means more milk for fragile babies!
Mothers’ Milk Bank asks that our donors have exceptional hygiene and follow careful collection and storage methods. The donor milk recipients are often the most fragile and ill infants in NICUs. In order for the milk to be used, it must be tested for any unwanted bacteria. By following the collection and storage methods outlined below, donors can help us make sure we’re able to use all of the milk that is donated. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website using the provided helpful links.
How to Collect and Store Milk For Donation
Before you pump, label your bags, they are much easier to label when they’re empty. Each bag must be labeled with your donor number or last name and the date of collection, including the year. Even if you don’t end up donating all of the milk you pump, marking them before they are full will make it easier if you do.
Once your bags are labeled, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Make sure you are pumping into clean bottles or directly into milk storage bags.
Pour your pumped milk into a milk storage bag and seal it. Any container meant for breastmilk storage is acceptable, but please do not use Ziploc bags or ice cube trays. If you combine milk from different pumping sessions, cool all of the milk to refrigerator temperature before combining. Milk pumped more than 24 hours apart should not be combined.
Help us prevent milk loss by not overfilling the milk storage bags. Frozen milk expands, and the bag seams may crack if overfilled. If you use hard containers, leave 3/4 of an inch or more space at the top to prevent damage.
Place the milk in the rear or bottom of your freezer, where it is the coldest. The freezer door is often warmer than the rest, so please avoid storing milk in the door.
Clean pump parts using the microwave steam bags provided by Mothers’ Milk Bank
- Disassemble all pump parts
- Wash the parts with warm, soapy water and rinse with clean water.
- Place the parts in the microwave steam bag and follow the instructions on the bag.
- The clean pump parts may remain in the microwave steam bags until they are needed again, or they can be placed in a new plastic bag.
When you are running low on microwave steam bags, call 303.869.1888 to request more.
See the CDC’s guidelines for milk storage and collection and breast pump cleaning in helpful links.
Request Supplies
Mothers’ Milk Bank can provide our donors with breast milk storage bags and sanitizing steam bags. Call 303.869.1888 to place an order.