Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank strictly follows the donor screening guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Our screening personnel, who are all either nurses or lactation consultants, are committed to making the screening process as convenient as possible and are available to answer questions throughout the entire screening and donation process.

1. Interview
   We start with a 15-minute phone interview in which you will be asked questions about your general health, medications/supplements use, and common reasons for ineligibility.
2. Complete the Application Packet
   The second step is completion of the application packet (online or by mail) with more details about your medical history, medications, diet, and general health.
3. Statements of health
   With your permission, we will contact your health care provider, and your baby’s doctor, for statements about your health and ability to donate milk.
4. Get bloodwork
   After the initial screening steps above, eligible donors are asked to complete bloodwork, identical to testing done by blood banks. This includes HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. The milk bank has several options to ensure that every donor can easily have her blood drawn close to her home.

Once approved, donors can drop off their frozen milk to our lab in Pittsburgh, to a local depot, or we can make arrangements for it to be picked up by FedEx at the donor’s home.

Please note that bacterial culture testing is done after milk pasteurization. On rare occasions an approved donor may become ineligible due to repeated positive cultures. These positive results simply reflect normal skin bacteria and have nothing to do with the health of the donor or her baby.

It is helpful to be aware of our pumping and storage instructions as soon as you consider the possibility of donating.

Pumping:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly using soap and warm water before pumping. Dry with a clean towel.
2. If you are pumping directly into a collection container, open it and place the cap inside up on the table. If you are collecting and transferring the milk to another container, such as a bag, keep that container closed until you are ready to fill it. Do not touch the top lip of the container or the inside of the cap, container, or bag.
3. DO NOT OVERFILL bags or containers. You must leave room for expansion as the milk freezes. We will not be able to use milk that leaks outside of torn bags/containers.

Cleaning Your Pump

1. Clean your pump parts.
   •  Rinse each piece that comes into contact with human milk.
   •  Wash each piece separately using liquid dishwashing soap and plenty of warm water.
   •  Rinse each piece thoroughly. Be sure to rinse off all of the soap.
   •  Place the washed pieces on a clean paper towel or drying rack and allow to air dry. Do not use cloth towels to dry your pump parts because they can carry germs and bacteria.
   •  Try not to touch the inside of any parts that will come in contact with your human milk.
   •  Inspect tubing for moisture after each use and clean/dry, if necessary.
   •  Consult your pump’s instruction manual to determine which parts should be washed and the best way to remove them.
   •  Read and follow your pump manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Once per day, sanitize your pump parts using one of the methods below (read manufacturer’s instructions).
   •  Place washed pump parts in a saucepan and cover with water. Heat on the stovetop and bring to a boil.  Boil for 5-10 minutes.
   •  You can also use Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags or similar product.
3. Wipe the outside of the tubing and the pump itself with a disinfectant wipe (any brand).

Storage

1. Breast milk storage bags are available upon request. Any brand of commercially available containers such as bags and bottles that are specifically designed to store breast milk are acceptable. Mark each bag with the following information using a permanent marker:
   •  Your Donor ID number (can be added once assigned).
   •  Date milk was pumped. No milk will be accepted without a date.
2. Refrigerate or freeze milk within 30 minutes of pumping. If necessary, you may refrigerate milk for up to 24 hours before freezing. Do not add freshly pumped milk to cold milk.
3. Place milk in the rear or bottom of your freezer, whichever is coldest.

Approved Donors can arrange to drop off milk at the following locations:

Mid-Atlantic Mother’s Milk Bank
3127 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15201

The Breastfeeding Resource Center
A community based non-profit organization committed to providing expert clinical and educational breastfeeding services.

1355 Old York Road Suite 101
Abington, PA 19001

987 Old Eagle School Road
Wayne, PA 19087

Excela Square at Norwin
An Excela Health affiliated community medical center

8775 Norwin Avenue
Irwin, PA 15642

Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center
An Eastern Pennsylvania practice dedicated to assisting mothers and mothers;to-be on the their prenatal, parenting, and breastfeeding journey.

1517 Pond Road
Allentown, PA 18104

LifeCycle Womancare
A non-profit birth and women’s healthcare center that provides exceptional healthcare services for women of all ages.

918 County Line Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Don’t live near a dropoff site? No problem! Shipping is always an option and it is easy. We send you a box with packing instructions and FedEx picks the box up from your home.