Are you looking for breast milk donation – either as a donor or a recipient – and aren’t sure where to start? In this post, we share various resources on how to find breast milk donations near you for those living in the United States and Canada.
We’ve all heard the benefits of breast milk. It can help with a baby’s immune system, brain development, and even weight gain. But how many of us know that there are also benefits for moms who want to donate their breast milk?
If you have breast milk that your baby is no longer using and don’t want to waste it you might be wondering where to donate breast milk. This article will give you resources on how and where to donate your breast milk state by state.
If you are a breastfeeding mom, you might be wondering what to do with your excess breast milk. You can always donate it! This article is all about finding resources for donating breast milk, and the different places that will take it from you. If you want to help other moms in need without taking up space in your fridge, keep reading!
Breast Milk Bank Locations Near Me
The Human Milk Bank Association of North America
The Human Milk Bank Association of North America (HMBANA) is a great resource for donating breast milk. They have a list of banks that accept donations, as well as information on how to donate and what you need to do to make sure your milk is safe. You can visit their website here.
You can donate to human milk banks even if there isn’t one near where you live. It can be more difficult to get milk from a milk bank if you aren’t nearby, though. Many hospitals get their milk from these milk banks across the United States and Canada.
United States
- Mother’s Milk Bank of Alabama
- Mothers’ Milk Bank (California)
- University of California Health Milk Bank
- Mothers’ Milk Bank (Colorado)
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Western Great Lakes (Illinois)
- The Milk Bank (Indiana)
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Iowa
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Louisiana
- Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast (Masschusetts)
- Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank (Michigan)
- Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Mississippi
- Heart of America’s Mothers’ Milk Bank
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Montana
- Human Milk Bank Respository of New Mexico
- The New York Milk Bank
- WakeMed Mothers’ Milk Bank
- OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank
- Oklahama’s Mothers’ Milk Bank
- Northwest Mothers’ Milk Bank
- CHOP Mothers’ Milk Bank
- Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank
- Mother’s Milk Bank of South Carolina
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of Austin
- Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas
- Mountain West Mothers’ Milk Bank
- The King’s Daughters Milk Bank
Canada
- NorthernStar Mothers’ Milk Bank – Alberta
- BC Women’s Provincial Milk Bank – British Columbia
- Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank – Ontario
Milk Donation Near Me
Mom to Mom Milk Sharing Facebook Pages (By State)
There are a couple of organizations that have created Facebook pages where they facilitate milk donation between local mothers. You can post a request for milk or a donation offer. Organizations such as the CDC and the WHO do not recommend mom-to-mom sharing, but it is something that thousands of mothers participate in each year.
The two main organizations are Human Milk 4 Human Babies and Eats on Feets. Below, we’ve linked to their pages in each state so you can find one near you.
These can be great options for moms who aren’t able to donate to a milk bank for one reason or another.
(HM4FB – Human Milk 4 Human Babies. EoF – Eats on Feets)
California – HM4HB | EoF Northern Cali, EoF Central, EoF Southern
Delaware – HM4HB
Maryland and Washington D.C. area – HM4HB | EoF (Maryland) EoF Washington D.C.
Mississippi – HM4HB
Wyoming – HM4HB
What are the benefits of donating breast milk?
One of the most important things a mother can do for her baby is to breastfeed. The benefits are numerous and include an improved immune system, healthier weight, better brain development, and a lower risk of allergies. One thing that many mothers don’t think about is how their breast milk can help others in need.
Many breastfeeding moms have excess milk that they pump after feedings- sometimes up to 1 gallon per day!
This breast milk can be donated to local hospitals or mothers who might not have access to it otherwise.
Donating breast milk is one way to make you feel like you’re making a difference. When breastfeeding moms donate their milk, they are giving back to their community. They know that by donating their breast milk, they will be helping other mothers who may not have the ability to feed their babies themselves or for those infants in hospitals in need of donor-banked human milk.
Is it safe to use donor milk?
Donor milk from a milk bank is very safe to use due to the strict screening process. It can be cost-prohibitive, though.
If you are receiving milk from a private donor, you should exercise extreme caution and ask many questions – here are some suggestions. Some parents choose to pasteurize breast milk using a home process in order to do so, though this can decrease the benefits of the breast milk.
Have you had success with donating breast milk or receiving donor milk? Be sure to share in the comments!