Donate milk

1. Completion of the screening process which includes blood testing.
   Some medications or circumstances that are completely fine for a full-term baby or a baby receiving their own mother’s milk could be problematic for the preterm and sick babies that are served by the milk bank. To make donor milk safe for these medically fragile infants, we must strictly follow the evidence-based screening standards of our accrediting body, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. The blood screening panel that is done is looking for four pathogens that can pass through human milk.
2. Follow careful pumping, labeling, and storage procedures.
   The storage procedure is required to prevent contamination and retain important qualities of the milk. Labeling records the age of the milk, the donor, and enables us to track whether milk was pumped during a deferral period.
3. Donate a minimum of 150 oz. of milk over the entire donation period.
   Our milk bank is a nonprofit and the total cost of screening an individual donor, including bloodwork, staff time, shipping milk (for donors outside of Pittsburgh) is nearly $400. Having a modest minimum helps to offset this expense.

• Use of tobacco or marijuana products of any kind, or having a household member smoking or vaping in your home.
• While many medications are compatible with milk donation, some are not. Of note, high blood pressure medications are not compatible with milk donation.
• Consuming more than 24 ounces of caffeinated beverages per day.
• Frequent consumption of alcohol (daily).

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 or UPS picks the box up from your home.

Testing and pasteurization

• Drug Testing: All milk pools are tested for a panel of common drugs including those that may be used during the post-partum period.
• Nutritional Analysis: Calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content information allows NICUs to create the best human milk nutrition plan for each tiny preemie.
• Pasteurization: Once bottled, milk goes through a low temperature pasteurization process which eliminates pathogens while keeping important bioactive components intact.
• Bacterial Culturing: After pasteurization, a random sample is taken from each batch and sent to the lab of a local hospital for bacterial culturing.

Learn more about how it works.

Special milk

• Isolation: Preterm milk is used in the NICU. Milk from donors with special diets is used by outpatients with allergies/sensitivities.
• Skimming: Sometimes after cardiac surgery, babies develop a complication that requires a very low-fat diet. If these babies do not have access to their own mother’s milk, which can be defatted in the hospital, we skim donor milk for them in our lab.
• Cream: We never waste milk. Cream is used by both NICUs and outpatients for specific purposes.

Your donated milk will make a big difference in the health of a baby. It will be used in one or more of the following ways:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs): Approximately 75-80% of the milk donated to our milk bank is used by NICUs and cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). Typical NICU recipients are babies born at or below 1.8 kg (3 lbs. 15 oz.) or those with congenital or acquired gastrointestinal or cardiac issues. There are thousands of NICU recipients in our region each year.

• Mother Baby Units: Some hospitals use donor milk for all babies who require supplementation, even healthy babies. Such supplementation is usually very minimal. More hospitals are expanding to this type of use to support healthy gut bacteria and promote maternal exclusive breastfeeding success. Currently, less than 5% of the donor milk from our bank is used in this way.
• Outpatients: Outpatient use is 25-30% of donor milk from our milk bank. A prescription is required, and the vast majority of these recipients have very significant medical issues. Medically necessary donor milk is typically covered by insurance. Many of these babies have rare conditions or have exhausted all other nutrition options. Outpatient recipients consume 20-30+ ounces per day. At any given time, we have more than a dozen outpatients in our care.
  Occasionally, we receive prescriptions for discretionary use where there is little to no access to mother’s own milk such as adoption, mastectomy, or bridge milk, and the baby does not have a documented medical need. These prescriptions are filled only if all hospital and ill outpatient needs are met and such milk is unlikely to be covered by insurance.
• HMBANA Sister Milk Banks: One of the best things about being a non-profit milk bank accredited by HMBANA is sharing. Since all 27 milk banks follow the same strict safety guidelines, we can help one another to ensure that all NICUs and ill outpatients across the United States and Canada have what they need. Our milk bank has been both a giver and a recipient. The sharing that our milk bank does is very minimal.

Donor milk requires testing and pasteurization for the safety of its recipients who typically have complex medical needs. (Learn more about safety here.) The milk bank, similar to a blood bank, relies on fees from hospitals or recipients to cover the significant costs associated with donor screening, testing, and processing.

This fee, in the NICU, is paid by the hospital, as each hospital orders a supply and distributes it according to their own evidence-based criteria. For outpatients with documented medical needs, the cost of donor milk is typically covered by insurance. For the occasional cases of medically necessary donor milk that are not covered, Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank has an income-based sliding scale program to offset costs for families.

How can I ensure my donation process goes smoothly?

• Deferrals: Do not share milk from dates marked as deferrals (due to meds, alcohol, or missing health info). Contact MAMMB if unsure.
• Bundle Milk: For safe, easy transport, group bags into gallon ziplocks (bricks) or tie them in grocery bags.
• Label Bags: Use permanent marker to write your donor number and full date (MM/DD/YYYY) on each bag/bottle. If frozen without a donor number or year, label the outer bundle instead.
• Label Bundles: If possible, add a date range on each bundle to help with sorting.
• Health Updates: Notify us of any new medications or changes to dietary restrictions. Your chart, not bag labels, determines eligibility.
• Red Stars = Alcohol: Bags with red stars are assumed to be collected within 12 hours of alcohol use and will be discarded.
• Milk Dates: We accept milk up to eight months old (from pump date), ensuring it can be processed before its 12-month expiration.
• Shipping: Overnight shipping is costly but keeps milk frozen. If possible, ship larger amounts at once to save on cost and improve freezing retention.

Why do you need medication dates if I pumped and dumped?
Even after you stop taking a medication, traces can remain in your milk. How long depends on the drug’s properties. With the medication name and dates, we can determine how long it stays in your milk.

Why do you need medication dates from before I plan to donate?
We track medications from around your delivery date, or one month before your oldest saved milk, to account for how long the drug may remain in your milk. This helps us verify eligibility without needing to revisit these questions later.

Will my provider send you a medication list?
We request a list from your OB provider, but it may be incomplete and doesn’t include meds taken after discharge. That’s why we ask you directly during the screening process.

How much milk should I share for my first donation?
You should share at least 50 ounces for the first donation. You’re welcome to send more based on your freezer space, how much milk you’ve saved, and your baby’s needs.

Note: We wait 2-3 weeks for culture results before accepting another shipment, so plan your box size accordingly if freezer space is limited.

Why is my milk tested for bacteria, and what does it mean for me?
Bacterial cultures help ensure safety for medically fragile babies, especially preemies, who often receive donor milk. While pasteurization kills most bacteria, certain types like Bacillus can survive and even grow under heat.

If bacteria is found, is my baby at risk?
No. Healthy babies can tolerate more bacteria than medically fragile ones. Your milk is still safe for your own baby.

Can I donate again if bacteria is found?
Yes, in most cases. You may just need to adjust your collection or storage process. Milk with bacteria is discarded and can’t be returned.

How can I reduce bacteria in my milk?
Wash hands, clean pump parts thoroughly, and limit exposure to contaminants.

Why do results take 2 – 3 weeks?
Samples are sent to an outside lab in batches. Timing also depends on which milk batches are being prioritized for processing based on age.

What size box should I request?

• XS: 50–125 oz
• M: 150–275 oz
• L: 250–350 oz
• XL: 350–450 oz

Tips: Choose a box close to your donation volume; fuller boxes freeze better. If you plan to make multiple donations, your milk is not close to eight months old, and you have the freezer space, please consider shipping a larger amount all at once rather than several smaller boxes.  This gives the milk a better chance of staying frozen and saves considerably on shipping.

How do I pack my box?
Bundle your milk before placing it in the box and fill any empty space with crumpled paper or plastic bags. Cover with the foam lid (don’t tape it), place the completed Illness and Medication form on top, then seal the box and attach the return label. If you’ve lost the paper form, it can be downloaded for FedEx here or UPS here. If dropping off at the shipper’s facility, call ahead to confirm the overnight truck departure time. More tips are included in the form inside your box.

How do I ship my box?
Contact the shipper at least one day before your planned shipment using the enclosed form’s instructions. To have shipping costs covered by us please follow the shipping steps on the paper form included in your box. If you’ve lost the paper form, it can be downloaded for FedEx here or UPS here.  Please make sure to contact the shipper matching your shipping label. Ship only on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to ensure delivery during business days.

What if I am dropping off at the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank?
Contact us during business hours at 412-281-4400, option 3, or email donate@midatlanticmilkbank.org to schedule a drop-off between 9am – 4pm. Early or late arrivals may be arranged by speaking with a donor screener. We also offer a morning drop-offs during our Second Saturday Drop Off. Complete the online Illness and Medication form before arrival. Parking is available on the street or in our lot. Call us at arrival for help unloading or drive to the backdoor and remain in your car for assistance. Please avoid parking in the neighboring paint store lot. For trips within an hour, milk stays frozen in a tightly packed picnic cooler; for shorter trips, an insulated bag is a great option. Bundling your milk helps us handle it efficiently.

Can I tour the Milk Bank?
Yes! We’d love to show you around. Let us know when you plan to visit so we can arrange a tour. Milk is typically processed in the morning and it’s an exciting thing to see!

Do you reimburse for milk storage bags?
We can’t reimburse or supply all storage bags, but when available, we’re happy to offer up to 25 bags per donation.

Why is there a fee for donor milk if it’s donated?
The fee covers the cost of processing, not the milk itself. Learn more under “Costs of Donated Milk.”

Why aren’t donors paid?
Nonprofit HMBANA milk banks do not pay their donors because paying for milk creates safety and ethical concerns for both the recipient and the donor’s own child. Our milk donors are strictly volunteers.

Why does being a nonprofit matter?
Nonprofits exist to serve a mission and to reinvest any excess revenue into serving their mission. HMBANA milk banks prioritize babies in need, reinvesting all revenue to ensure access to safe donor milk. We work with hospitals, providers, and agencies to support equitable breastfeeding and donor milk access, guided by a triage system and not by profit.

If you’re nonprofit, shouldn’t your milk be free?
Like hospitals and schools, nonprofits must charge to cover costs. Donor milk requires careful screening, pasteurization, testing, storage, and delivery that is handled by trained staff using specialized equipment.

Does MAMMB participate in the Milk Bank Challenge?
No. This challenge is organized by a for-profit surrogacy company not affiliated with nonprofit milk banks. However, we can provide documentation for donors participating independently.

Why encourage drop-off if I live an hour away?
Shipping is costly and less reliable due to hub routing. Dropping off helps reduce costs and the small risk of milk defrosting in transit.

Is there a ride-share program for donors?
Not currently, but we’re exploring the idea of connecting nearby donors in Pittsburgh to coordinate drop-offs together.