Human Milk Banking
The Breastfeeding CoP Milk Bank Working Group is now incorporated under the registry of joint stocks as the Atlantic Milk Bank Coalition. The AMBC is working to raise awareness of the importance of human donor milk for the health of infants, mothers and communities, and to advance access to pasteurized human donor milk to any in need in the Atlantic Provinces. The Atlantic Milk Bank Coalition recognizes the important role human milk plays in the health of infants throughout the region and strongly supports breastfeeding. Human milk is the optimal food for infants, but, for various reasons, not all infants have access to mother’s own milk. Pasteurized human Donor milk is the next best option and should be available to all infants in need of supplementation. We recognise that many people may not know what a donor human breast milk bank is, so we have created very basic Frequently Asked Questions on Human Milk Banking.
What is a human milk bank?
A human milk bank is a facility that screens, processes, and dispenses human milk donated by nursing mothers. The hospitals that receive the human milk, give it to medically fragile babies. Human milk is given by prescription.
How does a human milk bank work?
Donors pump and freeze their milk for the milk bank. Once they collect a certain amount, the milk is sent to the milk bank where it is tested and pasteurized. The milk from several people is combined. The milk is packaged in safely sealed bottles and sent to hospitals and sometimes community, for use with babies in need. Human donor milk is available by prescription only to ensure this milk is prioritized to the sickest and most fragile babies. The more milk that is donated, the more widely the milk can be distributed.
Who can donate to a milk bank?
Milk donors are healthy women who have delivered a baby within the past year who are currently breastfeeding, or pumping their milk, and willing to generously donate their milk. This includes:
Why are human milk banks needed?
Human milk is specifically designed for human babies and provides unique benefits that cannot be duplicated by formula, including providing antibodies to fight disease and infection. Babies who are born premature or ill are at a higher risk of certain diseases and infections. Sometimes, moms are not able to supply their babies with their own milk. Providing fragile infants with pasteurized human donor milk gives them a stronger hold on life by supplying antibodies to fight life-threatening disease and infection.
Are human milk banks safe?
Yes, all potential donors go through a screening process and have their blood tested. The donating mother’s primary provider must attest to her health and that of her baby. The milk is pasteurized. It is cultured to test for bacteria before and after it is pasteurized. The milk is frozen after pasteurization and delivered in labeled bottles.
Are there any human milk banks in Canada?
There are currently 3 human milk banks in Canada who are regulated by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America(HMBANA).
Does Nova Scotia have a human milk bank?
No, there is currently no human milk bank in Nova Scotia.
Can babies born at the IWK Health Centre receive breastmilk from a human milk bank?
Yes, the IWK Health Centre has been purchasing donor human milk from the NorthernStar Mothers' Milk Bank in Calgary for use in the NICU for medically fragile and premature newborns meeting specific criteria, and for whom mother's own milk is not available. The donor milk in NICU is ordered by the neonatal team physicians.
Are human milk donors paid for their milk?
No. In Canada, all milk donors are volunteers and are not paid for donating their milk. They generously donate to help babies in need. Donors to the Calgary Mother’s Milk Bank have all their expenses reimbursed, such as the cost of storage bags, and the bank pays for the shipping.
Is there a cost to receive human milk?
No. Human donor milk is provided free of charge to eligible hospitalized babies by prescription.
I would like to become a donor. What do I do?
While there is currently no milk bank in Nova Scotia, NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank will accept Nova Scotia donations. Click on the link to start the screening process.
http://northernstarmilkbank.ca/give-donate/donate-milk/
The Breastfeeding CoP Milk Bank Working Group is now incorporated under the registry of joint stocks as the Atlantic Milk Bank Coalition. The AMBC is working to raise awareness of the importance of human donor milk for the health of infants, mothers and communities, and to advance access to pasteurized human donor milk to any in need in the Atlantic Provinces. The Atlantic Milk Bank Coalition recognizes the important role human milk plays in the health of infants throughout the region and strongly supports breastfeeding. Human milk is the optimal food for infants, but, for various reasons, not all infants have access to mother’s own milk. Pasteurized human Donor milk is the next best option and should be available to all infants in need of supplementation. We recognise that many people may not know what a donor human breast milk bank is, so we have created very basic Frequently Asked Questions on Human Milk Banking.
What is a human milk bank?
A human milk bank is a facility that screens, processes, and dispenses human milk donated by nursing mothers. The hospitals that receive the human milk, give it to medically fragile babies. Human milk is given by prescription.
How does a human milk bank work?
Donors pump and freeze their milk for the milk bank. Once they collect a certain amount, the milk is sent to the milk bank where it is tested and pasteurized. The milk from several people is combined. The milk is packaged in safely sealed bottles and sent to hospitals and sometimes community, for use with babies in need. Human donor milk is available by prescription only to ensure this milk is prioritized to the sickest and most fragile babies. The more milk that is donated, the more widely the milk can be distributed.
Who can donate to a milk bank?
Milk donors are healthy women who have delivered a baby within the past year who are currently breastfeeding, or pumping their milk, and willing to generously donate their milk. This includes:
- Women currently breastfeeding a baby (under 12 months of age) and have a lot of supply, or have recently stored a large volume of milk.
- Women who have given a baby up for adoption or are acting as a surrogate.
- Women who have lost their baby
Why are human milk banks needed?
Human milk is specifically designed for human babies and provides unique benefits that cannot be duplicated by formula, including providing antibodies to fight disease and infection. Babies who are born premature or ill are at a higher risk of certain diseases and infections. Sometimes, moms are not able to supply their babies with their own milk. Providing fragile infants with pasteurized human donor milk gives them a stronger hold on life by supplying antibodies to fight life-threatening disease and infection.
Are human milk banks safe?
Yes, all potential donors go through a screening process and have their blood tested. The donating mother’s primary provider must attest to her health and that of her baby. The milk is pasteurized. It is cultured to test for bacteria before and after it is pasteurized. The milk is frozen after pasteurization and delivered in labeled bottles.
Are there any human milk banks in Canada?
There are currently 3 human milk banks in Canada who are regulated by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America(HMBANA).
- NorthernStar Mothers’ Milk Bank in Calgary, Alberta
- British Columbia Women’s Provincial Milk Bank in Vancouver, British Columbia
- Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank in Toronto, Ontario
Does Nova Scotia have a human milk bank?
No, there is currently no human milk bank in Nova Scotia.
Can babies born at the IWK Health Centre receive breastmilk from a human milk bank?
Yes, the IWK Health Centre has been purchasing donor human milk from the NorthernStar Mothers' Milk Bank in Calgary for use in the NICU for medically fragile and premature newborns meeting specific criteria, and for whom mother's own milk is not available. The donor milk in NICU is ordered by the neonatal team physicians.
Are human milk donors paid for their milk?
No. In Canada, all milk donors are volunteers and are not paid for donating their milk. They generously donate to help babies in need. Donors to the Calgary Mother’s Milk Bank have all their expenses reimbursed, such as the cost of storage bags, and the bank pays for the shipping.
Is there a cost to receive human milk?
No. Human donor milk is provided free of charge to eligible hospitalized babies by prescription.
I would like to become a donor. What do I do?
While there is currently no milk bank in Nova Scotia, NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank will accept Nova Scotia donations. Click on the link to start the screening process.
http://northernstarmilkbank.ca/give-donate/donate-milk/
