Human Milk is Magic
The health benefits received from using human milk (breast milk) for newborns, especially premature newborns, cannot be replicated by any commercial formula product. Donating to and receiving milk from a nonprofit milk bank guarantees that the milk will be safe, unaltered, and provided to the babies who need it most.
Donor human milk is essential for any baby with a weakened immune system or special dietary needs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) claims breastfeeding and human milk (breast milk) are the reference normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. While a parent’s own milk is best for their baby, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that if, after consultation with a healthcare provider, one decides to feed their baby with human milk from another source, they should only use milk from a source that has screened its milk donors and taken other precautions to ensure the safety of its milk. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics supports milk banking by stating, “If mother’s own milk is unavailable despite significant lactation support, pasteurized donor milk should be used.”
The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) also states, “In situations where a mother’s own milk is not available to meet her baby’s needs, pasteurized donor human milk is the ideal replacement. The use of donor human milk has saved infant lives and positively impacted the health outcomes of countless premature and sick infants through therapy and prevention of disease.”
Human milk (breast milk) is best for your baby. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first six months of life, human milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness. This protection is unmatched by any formula or commercially-produced product.
“If mother’s own milk is unavailable, despite significant lactation support, pasteurized donor milk should be used.”
— American Academy of Pediatrics
How Donor Human Milk Can Help
Donor human milk provides critical nutrition in a variety of circumstances. Always consult your medical provider to determine the best course of action for you and your baby. Here are a few key ways donor human milk can help:
Hospital Care
Donor human milk is a critical source of nutrition for premature and ill infants in the hospital. Medical providers often use it in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to help reduce the risk of early diseases.
Initial Supplementation
For many parents, it takes a few days after giving birth for milk to come in. Donor human milk can serve as a bridge until it does, helping jumpstart a successful lactation journey.
Alternate Nutrition Source
Donor human milk is also used when a mother has undergone breast surgery, is ill, is taking certain types of medication, or has given birth to multiples and is in need of supplementation.
A Comparison of Human Milk and Formula
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Mothers’ Milk Bank is committed to safety and quality. We follow the strict guidelines set forth by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). All milk donors are screened by trained staff members, undergo blood testing and must have their health care providers confirm their medical histories. The milk is pasteurized in an ISO 7 clean room and goes through extensive testing before being dispensed. MMB provides donor human milk as a community service, charging only a processing fee to offset some of the costs associated with the donor screenings, milk processing and milk testing.
