Donor Milk is stored frozen until use. Frozen milk is safe to use until the expiration date listed on the bottle.

Thawing Milk

Ideally, milk should be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. If you need to rapidly defrost it, place the bottle in a bowl filled with warm water, making sure that the water does not come in contact with the lid. Do not use water that is above 98°F. Do not use a microwave to defrost milk. Gently swirl the bottle occasionally and just prior to feeding, as this will mix any fat that has separated. Pour the desired amount of thawed milk into a bottle, cup, or supplementer for feeding. Thawed milk may be warmed to feeding temperature using the same procedure of placing the container in a warm water bath. Once a feeding is completed, unused milk left in the feeding container must be discarded.

Special Notes

• Completely thaw the bottle to allow the milk to be swirled to distribute nutrients. Do not just thaw enough to pour off a feeding.
• Milk is safe to use up to 48 hours after it is thawed.
• It is important to keep thawed milk refrigerated at all times.
• Never refreeze thawed donor milk.

Things You May Notice

The appearance of milk can vary quite a bit. Some milk looks “thin” while other milk appears “thicker.” Milk can also be many different colors, from pure white to pale yellow to white with a bluish or greenish tinge. These variations are perfectly normal and do not indicate differences in quality or nutrition. Depending on your child’s previous diet, you may notice a change in his/her stools and stooling patterns. Typical breast milk stools are yellow/ golden, loose, and seedy. If you have any questions regarding changes for your child after receiving donor milk, please contact your healthcare provider.

Download our safe handling of donor milk instructions.

Maryland

Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition
Several breastfeeding resources for both families and healthcare providers
mdbfc.org

WIC
Numerous breastfeeding support services.
health.maryland.gov/phpa/wic/Pages/breastfeeding-services.aspx

New Jersey

WIC
Various resources including IBCLCs, Peer to Peer Counselors, a helpline, and referrals to mothers groups.
nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/nutrition-breastfeeding/bf/

ZipMilk
New Jersey participates in ZipMilk, an easy to use online database of lactation providers searchable by zip code.
zipmilk.org

Pennsylvania

Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh
The Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh provides expert lactation support, prenatal/postnatal education, and digital resources to help families with breastfeeding. Staffed by certified lactation consultants, they offer personalized care, virtual classes, and community connections across three locations in the Pittsburgh area.

p: 412-246-4726
w: breastfeedingcenterofpittsburgh.com

Breastfeeding Resource Center
The Breastfeeding Resource Center (BRC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing expert clinical and educational breastfeeding services. The BRC offers a range of services including prenatal consultations, lactation support, back-to-work planning, and specialized assistance for induced lactation. They provide both in-person and virtual appointments, as well as home visits in select areas. All insurances are accepted.

1355 Old York Rd.
Suite 101 and 102
Abington, PA 19001

p: 215-886-2433
w: breastfeedingresourcecenter.org

Healthy Start Center for Urban Breastfeeding
LAtCH (Lactation Assessment and Counseling Home Support) Program provides comprehensive breastfeeding support to support Black mothers in Allegheny County with their breastfeeding needs and questions. Our staff can provide support in-home, virtually, or by telephone triage. The support is provided 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, free of charge. The LAtCH line can be reached at 412-545-2022 and selecting option 1.
healthystartpittsburgh.org/center-for-urban-breastfeeding/

Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center
The Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center is dedicated to helping families with their lactation needs. LVBC is staffed by five IBCLCs, including three Breastfeeding Medicine Specialists/Pediatricians. We offer appointments such as prenatal, breastfeeding/latching, weighted feeds, tongue/lip tie assessments and releases, pumping, supply issues, weaning, and more! We host free monthly breastfeeding and newborn care classes, as well as a breastfeeding/pumping moms group session twice per month, as well.

Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center
1517 Pond Road
Allentown, PA 18104

p: 610-366-7676
w: lvbreastfeeding.com
e: info@lvbreastfeeding.com

Maternity Care Coalition
Offers free monthly virtual lactation workshops and one on one lactation support (in-person and virtual) for parents in the greater Philadelphia area.
maternitycarecoalition.org

Pennsylvania Department of Health
Various resources including a referral guide.
health.pa.gov/topics/programs/Breastfeeding/Pages/Breastfeeding.aspx

Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle
Provides culturally relevant breastfeeding, parenting, and nutrition education and information is a supportive group environment.
pghblackbreastfeeding.org

St. Luke’s Baby and Me Support Center
1425 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18018
484-526-(BABY) 2229

WIC
Numerous breastfeeding support services for WIC participants including a helpline. Breastfeeding hotline at 1-855-4-ASK-MOM (1-855-427-5666)

ZipMilk
Pennsylvania participates in ZipMilk, an easy to use online database of lactation providers searchable by zip code.
zipmilk.org

West Virginia

West Virginia Breastfeeding Alliance
Listing of regional resources.
wvbreastfeeding.org

WIC
Various resources including IBCLCs, Peer to Peer Counselors
wvdhhr.org/ons/breastfeeding.asp

ZipMilk
West Virginia participates in ZipMilk, an easy to use online database of lactation providers searchable by zip code.
zipmilk.org

National and Online

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocols
Best practices for a variety of circumstances including supplementation, breastfeeding the late preterm infant, contraception and breastfeeding, hypoglycemia, and more.
bfmed.org/protocols

Infant Risk Center
One of the very best resources for questions regarding medications and breastfeeding. The phone line is staffed by a physician, Monday through Friday, Central time. infantrisk.com has an online forum with additional information.
1-806-352-2519

KellyMom
A website which provides evidence-based information on breastfeeding.
kellymom.com

La Leche League (LLL)
The organization maintains a 24-hour helpline service by calling 1-877-452-5324. This helpline provides information, education and support for women who want to breastfeed and to healthcare providers. Local chapters provide additional programming.
lllusa.org

Office on Women’s Health
Government website with various breastfeeding resources including the downloadable Your Guide to Breastfeeding. The agency also maintains the National Breastfeeding Helpline at 1-800-994-9662.
womenshealth.gov/patient-materials/resource/guides

Physician’s Guide to Breastfeeding
Evidence based guidance for families and communities.
physicianguidetobreastfeeding.org

Information About Medications and Breastfeeding

Some reliable databases to access information about medications to discuss with your healthcare team.

Infant Risk Center
A good resource for questions regarding medications and breastfeeding. The phone line is staffed by a pharmacist, Monday through Friday, Central time. infantrisk.com has an online forum with additional information.
1-806-352-2519

LactMed
A database that contains information about medications and chemicals that breastfeeding mother may be exposed to and their potential adverse effects on nursing infants. All data are derived from the scientific literature and fully referenced. A peer review panel reviews the data to assure scientific validity and currency.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/

Trash the Pump and Dump
Online database of medications and lactation.
trashthepumpanddump.org

Below, please find all our locations, including their designation as depot, dispensary or both. Pre-screened donors can drop off milk at depot locations. Donor milk can be purchased, per the qualifications, at dispensary locations. Want to know more? Contact us at info@midatlanticmilkbank.com.

Please note that the availability of bridge milk and other elective use is contingent on the supply of donor milk. The milk supply is dependent on donations from generous volunteer milk donors along with the census and needs of regional neonatal intensive care units. Occasionally, the milk bank may need to temporarily limit bridge and elective use according to its distribution policy to ensure that premature and medically fragile babies have the donor milk that they need.

Paying for donor milk at discharge

If you are being discharged from the hospital and will be taking bottles of bridge milk home with you, fill out the Dispensary Order Form and pay online: Bottles are $15 each. When filling out the form it is important for you to indicate the hospital and unit that you are being discharged from.

Ordering milk post discharge

Additional milk can be picked up at the milk bank or neighborhood dispensary. If a location is not nearby, milk can be shipped Monday-Thursday for arrival the following day (shipping charges will be added).

Use the following procedure to order milk to be picked up. Dispensaries have a limited amount of processed milk on hand for short term uses such as post discharge bridge milk for newborns or a starter order for outpatients who will have an ongoing need.

1. Contact your child’s healthcare provider. It is important for your child’s healthcare provider to be aware of supplementation that your child receives. A prescription is required for use of more than (12) 100 ml bottles (total, over a recipient’s lifetime, not per order).
2. Contact us at orders@midatlanticmilkbank.org or 412-281-4400 before completing the Dispensary Order Form.
3. Fill out the Dispensary Order Form and pay online: Bottles are $15 each.
4. Download a copy of your completed form. A receipt for your order with an order number and a payment receipt will also be emailed to you.
5. Call or email the dispensary you selected to set up a pickup time. You MUST set up a pickup time with the dispensary prior to arrival.
6. Please note, our dispensaries are generally not open in the evenings or on weekends. If you need to pick up milk on a Monday morning, please allow us some time to carefully prepare your order. Same day pickup may not be available.
7. Bring the completed form you downloaded and a copy of your payment receipt to the dispensary location where you are picking up your order.

If your infant has a need for donor milk beyond two weeks or if the milk is being covered by insurance contact orders@midatlanticmilkbank.org for instructions on placing orders.

Additional milk can be picked up at the milk bank or neighborhood dispensary. If a location is not nearby, milk can be shipped Monday-Thursday for arrival the following day (shipping charges will be added).

Bridge milk or other short term use

Use the following procedure to order milk to be picked up. Dispensaries have a limited amount of processed milk on hand for short term uses such as post discharge bridge milk for newborns or a starter order for outpatients who will have an ongoing need.

1. Contact your child’s healthcare provider. It is important for your child’s healthcare provider to be aware of supplementation that your child receives. A prescription is required for use of more than (12) 100 ml bottles (total, over a recipient’s lifetime, not per order).
2. Contact us at orders@midatlanticmilkbank.org or 412-281-4400 before completing the Dispensary Order Form.
3. Fill out the Dispensary Order Form and pay online: Bottles are $15 each.
4. Download a copy of your completed form. A receipt for your order with an order number and a payment receipt will also be emailed to you.
5. Call or email the dispensary you selected to set up a pickup time. You MUST set up a pickup time with the dispensary prior to arrival. Please note, our dispensaries are generally not open in the evenings or on weekends. If you need to pick up milk on a Monday morning, please allow us some time to carefully prepare your order. Same day pickup may not be available.
6. Bring the completed form you downloaded and a copy of your payment receipt to the dispensary location where you are picking up your order.

Ongoing and medical need

If your family requires longer term use of donor milk for a medical need please refer to our Order page. You will find more detailed instructions along with information about seeking insurance coverage.

Watch the short video and meet baby Nico.