Milk Donations

Donor mothers are healthy women who are currently breast feeding an infant under one year of age and who have a surplus of milk. Donor mothers must be:

• In good general health and breast feeding a thriving infant
• Willing to have blood tests to rule out communicable diseases
• Not regularly using medications except for progestin-only birth control, thyroxin, insulin, prenatal vitamins, iron or calcium
• Free from smoking, illegal drug use and regular alcohol use
• Tested negative and not at risk for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B or C, and syphilis.
• Willing to donate a minimum of 100 ounces.

Donated milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria or viruses. It is then frozen for up to one year. A newborn can consume about 30 ounces a day.

Donor Health Screening:

Donor mothers are screened for health history and medication use. A blood test screens for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B & C, and syphilis. Any positive blood test makes a woman ineligible to donate milk. The Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas will cover the cost of blood screenings for donor mothers.

Exclusions: A Woman may NOT donate if she:

• Is at risk for HIV or has a sexual partner at risk for HIV
• Uses illegal drugs
• Smokes
• Has received blood products or an organ or tissue transplant in the last 12 months
• Regularly drinks more than 2 oz of liquor daily
• Has a baby who is not thriving on breastfeeding
• Her doctor believes there is a contraindication to milk donation
• If a woman regularly uses medication, her file is reviewed by the medical director prior to accepting her as a donor. Some medications are acceptable, such as progestin-only birth control pills, thyroxin, insulin, and similar replacement hormones, prenatal or similar multivitamins, and iron or calcium supplements. Donor mothers are instructed to refrain from donating during any period in which they use other medications.

Other Considerations:

Mothers may donate until their infant is one year of age.

Payment to Donor Mothers:

None. Mothers donate their milk. The milk bank covers the cost of their blood tests and provides containers in which to collect and store milk.