How do I donate breastmilk?

Though nearly 75 percent of American moms start off breastfeeding, only 12 percent still nurse exclusively by the time their child is six months old, despite recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Most formula is made from cow's milk with corn syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, vitamins, and minerals added to more closely resemble human breastmilk. For the many fragile preemie babies this product may be life-threatening.

Premature babies, especially those who weigh 1250 grams or less at birth, have special nutritional needs. Because they need more energy for growth and because they grow so rapidly, they need more protein and minerals than full-term babies. This is why they are often prescribed a human milk fortifier. It is added to their mom’s milk or donor milk if mom’s is unavailable. It helps provide the added nutrition without added volume.

Pre-term babies can develop a dangerous disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). It can sometimes require surgery and is the leading cause of death among premature infants. Most human milk fortifiers are made from cow milk. However, according to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, an exclusively human milk diet (including human milk fortifier made from donated breastmilk) has been shown to reduce the odds of preemies developing NEC (specifically those weighing between 500 and 1250 grams at birth), when compared to preemies receiving a diet containing cow milk fortifier or formula.

Human breastmilk, sometimes referred to as "liquid gold," combined with a human milk fortifier made from 100 percent human milk (as opposed to cow milk) provides the added nutrition, minerals and nutrients a premature baby needs, all while preserving the benefits of an all breastmilk diet. Now, here’s where you come in…

How do I donate breastmilk to Prolacta and help preemies?

The donation process includes five steps: Breastmilk donation is a unique and special gift only a mother can give. It helps provide the added nutrition critically ill preemies need and is valued by both the medical community and families with sick, preterm babies. Without human milk donors, it wouldn't be possible to provide these babies in need with a diet made from 100 percent human breastmilk.

1. You have excess milk. If your baby is well-fed, happy, and growing and your milk comes in more quickly than you can feed, you are the perfect candidate for donating.  You can donate newly expressed milk or previously collected frozen milk up to 10 months, as long as it is clearly marked with month, day, and year of expression, and your freezer maintains the correct temperature .
2. You complete an online application. Once you give your consent to participate in the program, you will need to complete a medical history survey. This is similar to the same kind of information you'd provide if you were donating blood. This application takes about 20 minutes to complete. Once your application is processed, you’ll receive an email or call from the milk bank with detailed information on next steps.
3. Your doctor signs medical forms. Because of the highly sensitive nature of your donation, it is required that your medical provider and your infant's pediatrician sign a confirmation form ensuring that both of you are healthy, and it is okay for you to donate your excess milk.
4. You provide a DNA cheek swab. Next, you will provide a DNA and a blood sample is taken  in your home and sent for viral testing to  a national laboratory. When you ship your donation, the milk is matched to the DNA profile created with your swab to ensure that the breastmilk came from you— the screened candidate. This helps prevent the risk of contamination and receiving milk from donors who have not yet been qualified. It may sound like overkill, but if you ever have a friend come to your house and leave her milk in your freezer, it can easily get mixed up, thereby posing a risk to the fragile infant population it goes to feed. Try to remember that each of these safety steps is in place to protect the preemies that will be nourished by your milk!
5. You send your donation from the comfort of your own home!  You are qualified! Now you receive instructions on how to pack and send your milk to Prolacta’s processing facility. You also receive a prepaid FedEx shipping label, a cooler, and breastmilk storage bags. If you donate 300 qualified ounces, you can even be eligible to get $300 for your breast pump!