How do I become a donor to the Mothers' Milk Bank?
Donors are critical to the success of the Mothers' Milk
Bank. Without donors to provide a safe and continuous supply
of milk, infants and children who need processed human milk
would be deprived of access to this valuable resource.
Donors may choose to express and freeze the milk for a
period of several weeks in order to donate a sufficient
quantity of milk (approximately 100 ounces of milk or more).
If a mother has stored frozen expressed milk that is less
than 5 months old in the freezer, she can still donate that
milk as long as the milk has been kept frozen.
Note: Repeat donors are treated as new donors with each
pregnancy.
Preliminary Donor Screening
The following suggested questions of donor history may
require further discussion with the Mothers’ Milk Bank
staff.
- Have a history of chronic infections (for example,
HIV, HTLV, active TB, hepatitis or herpes or other
chronic health condition, such as multiple sclerosis or
a history of cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer
or cervical cancer in situ)
- In the past 12 months have had a sexual partner who
is at high risk for HIV/AIDS, HTLV, or hepatitis
(including anyone with hemophilia, anyone who has used a
needle for the injection of illegal or non-prescription
drugs, or anyone who has multiple sexual partners)
- In the past 12 months had a sexual partner who has
had tattoos, permanent makeup applied with needles, ear
or other body parts pierced, or been accidentally stuck
with a contaminated needle
- Have been told they cannot give blood for a medical
reason, unless the reason was low body weight,
pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- In the last 12 months have received a blood
transfusion, blood products, an organ or tissue
transplant, ear or body part piercing, tattooing,
permanent make-up applied with needles, or an accidental
stick with a contaminated needle
- Had a blood transfusion given to the baby during
pregnancy
- Have ever had hepatitis or yellow jaundice or in the
last 12 months had close contact with someone with viral
hepatitis or yellow jaundice (cohabitation or sexual
contact)
- Within the past 12 months been exposed to hepatitis
B or received a gamma globulin shot
- Have ever had acupuncture or electrolysis with non
sterile needles
- Have ever received human pituitary-derived growth
hormone, a dura mater or brain covering graft, or had
intimate contact with some who has Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease
- Use tobacco products, nicotine patch, nicotine gum,
or regularly use more than 2 ounces of hard liquor or
its equivalent within a 24 hour period
- Use illegal drugs
- Been born, lived in, or traveled in, any African
country since 1977 (we need to discuss which countries are involved)
- Between 1980 and 1996 lived in the UK (England,
North Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, the
Channel Islands, Gibraltar, or the Falkland Islands) for
more than three months, or have ever received a blood
transfusion in the UK
- Since 1980 spent time that adds up to a total of 5
years in Europe
- Have ever injected drugs, or had a intimate
relationship with someone who has injected drugs
- Regularly use over-the-counter medications or
prescription medications (thyroid replacement hormones,
insulin, nasal sprays, topical treatments, eye drops,
vitamins, iron supplements, and progestin-only birth
control pills are acceptable)
- Are taking pharmacologically active herbal or
preparations, vitamins containg herbal supplements, or
taking mega doses of any vitamins
- Consume more than 24oz of caffeinated drinks per
day, or regularly consume alcohol (there is a 12 hour
waiting period after consuming alcohol before pumping
for the bank)
- Have ever tested positive for tuberculosis (we need
to discuss the circumstances)
- Are total vegetarians (vegans) and do not supplement
their diets with vitamins
Donor Screening Procedures:
- If you meet the qualifications of the preliminary
donor screening process, call the Mothers' Milk Bank for
a brief verbal medical history review and more
information on how to donate at (408) 998-4550.
- Fill out donor information forms, consent forms,
physician approval forms, and information sheets.
- Consent to a blood test. Once the donor is cleared with
the blood screening, she can donate as many times as she is able.
The Mothers' Milk Bank covers the cost of the serological screening.
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How does a volunteer donor ship milk to the Mothers' Milk
Bank?
The staff of the Mothers' Milk Bank will contact her when
her first shipment is approved. If the donor can deliver the
frozen milk to our facility during business hours, we
greatly appreciate the effort.
The donor may also transport her milk to one of the many
depots in California.
If none of these methods are available, MMB will ship
coolers and airbills to the donor's residence when milk is
ready to transport. Instructions on shipping and packing
frozen milk will be included in the cooler.
The frozen milk will be accepted Monday through Friday
only. Do not ship milk for a Saturday or Sunday pick-up. The
Mothers' Milk Bank is closed for weekends and holidays.
The frozen milk must not be older than 4 months in a
regular home freezer or 6 months in a deep freeze.
Any additional donations from an approved donor will be
greatly appreciated. To request a cooler, call (408)
998-4550. It will take 2-3 days for the cooler to arrive.
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Are donors
paid for their milk?
No. All donors to the Mothers' Milk Bank are volunteers.
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Do you
pasteurize the milk?
Yes. The milk is frozen after the pasteurization
procedure. All donors are blood tested and the milk is
tested for bacterial counts.
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How do I order
processed milk?
The Mothers' Milk Bank provides milk to patients who have
a physician's prescription (MD or DO). The prescription must
indicate how many ounces of processed milk per day, and for
how many weeks or months. We also need the patient's name,
address and phone number with the prescription. The
information can be faxed to us at (408)297-9208.
We cannot guarantee that the milk will be available the
day the prescription comes in. Please take into
consideration that our sick and premature infants are our
main priority.
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How is banked
milk shipped?
It is the families responsibility to pick-up the frozen
milk from the Mothers' Milk Bank. If this is not an option,
The Mothers' Milk Bank uses priority overnight shipment.
There will be a charge for the shipping and handling.
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How do I receive milk if I live out of the area?
A physician's prescription can be mailed or faxed to the
Mothers' Milk Bank at (408) 297-9208. Information such as
name, phone number and address must accompany the
prescription. Once we receive the prescription, it takes two
working days for shipping and handling.
Processed milk can be shipped priority overnight mail.
There will be shipping charges to the recipient's family.
The charge for shipping depends on the area shipped to and
the weight of the package.
If you have a FedEx, UPS, or Postal Service account
number, MMB will bill directly to your account.
We prefer not to ship milk out on Fridays unless it is an
emergency. The hospital shipping/loading dock is closed.
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How
do I use donor milk once I get it?
All the donor human milk supplied to you has been
pasteurized or heat treated and then frozen. Place all the
donor human milk in the freezer for further storage. The
bottles should be placed in the rear of the freezer, away
from the freezer door. The freezer door is not an
appropriate place for storage since the temperature changes
when the door is opened. On each bottle is an expiration
date, which is usually six months from the time the donor
human milk has been treated.
A freezer that keeps ice cream hard is appropriate for
storing donor human milk. In the hospital, the freezer
should register -20° C (-4°F).
Donor human milk can be thawed quickly in a container of
warm water (not to exceed 37°C/98°F). The water must cover
the level of the donor human milk but not touch the lid.
Water can seep into the bottle and contaminate the donor
human milk if the lid is exposed to the warm water.
The optimal method of defrosting donor human milk is to
place the frozen bottle in the refrigerator for an overnight
slow thaw. The donor human milk should be used by the next
24 hours.
Do not microwave any human milk.
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What is
the cost of processed milk?
There is a processing fee of $3.00 per ounce. There may
also be shipping charges involved.
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Does
insurance cover the cost of banked milk?
Most insurance companies will cover the cost of banked
milk if it is medically necessary. To find out if your
insurance will cover the cost of the milk, call your
provider.
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