Meet our Milk Depot

Do you have extra breastmilk?  Why not donate your milk to The MidAtlantic Mother's Milk Bank (also known as Three Rivers Mother's Milk Bank)?  The Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center is proud to be a Milk Depot for MidAtlantic Mother's Milk Bank, which means approved donors can drop off their milk at our center, letting us handle the rest!  Learn more at https://midatlanticmilkbank.org/donate/

BE A DONOR

Who can donate?

If you answer yes to the following questions, you could be a donor, helping to nourish the most at-risk population of babies:

  • I am confident in my milk supply and have milk that exceeds my own baby’s needs. Or, I am a bereaved mother or surrogate.
  • I am willing to donate at least 150 ounces over a six-month period. This minimum amount is waived for bereaved mothers.
  • I am willing to undergo blood testing.
  • I am willing to practice exceptional hygiene and carry out careful pumping, labelling, and storage procedures.
  • The milk that I will donate was pumped on or before my baby’s first birthday.
  • The milk that I will donate was stored no longer than 3 months in a refrigerator/freezer combo or no longer than 6 months in a stand-alone freezer (chest or upright).
  • I do not use tobacco or marijuana products of any kind.
  • I do not regularly consume alcohol (occasional use is acceptable, and we ask that you refrain from pumping for the Milk Bank for 12 hours after the consumption of alcohol).
  • I do not take vitamin supplements that exceeds 20x the recommended daily allowance (RDA).
  • I do not consume herbal supplements including those contained in capsules, teas, supplemental/nutritional beverages/shakes, or energy drinks; please note that Mothers’ Milk Tea and fenugreek are not permitted.
  • I consume less than 24 ounces of caffeinated beverages a day.
  • I do not take high blood pressure medications.
  • I have no history of intimate contact with anyone at risk for HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.

If you agreed with all of the above statements, you may be eligible to donate, and we encourage you to begin the screening process, if interested.  Please note that these statements do not imply approval. Certain chronic conditions, illnesses, medications, supplements, and other factors may prevent you from being a donor. If you would like to discuss your eligibility with us, or would like to begin the screening process, please contact us at donate@midatlanticmilkbank.org or 412-281-4400.

 

How do I donate?

Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank strictly follows the donor screening guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Our screening personnel, who are all either nurses or lactation consultants, are committed to making the screening process as convenient as possible and are available to answer questions throughout the entire screening and donation process.

  1. Interview
    We start with a 15-minute phone interview in which you will be asked questions about your general health, medications/supplements use, and common reasons for ineligibility.
  2. Complete the Application Packet
    The second step is completion of the application packet (online or by mail) with more details about your medical history, medications, diet, and general health.
  3. Statements of health
    With your permission, we will contact your health care provider, and your baby’s doctor, for statements about your health and ability to donate milk.
  4. Get bloodwork
    After the initial screening steps above, eligible donors are asked to complete bloodwork, identical to testing done by blood banks. This includes HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. The milk bank has several options to ensure that every donor can easily have her blood drawn close to her home.

Once approved, donors can drop off their frozen milk to our milk depot here at The Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center.

Please note that bacterial culture testing is done after milk pasteurization. On rare occasions an approved donor may become ineligible due to repeated positive cultures. These positive results simply reflect normal skin bacteria and have nothing to do with the health of the donor or her baby.

BE A RECIPIENT 

Each year, nearly 11% of the 140,000 babies born in Pennsylvania and West Virginia arrive prematurely.

One of the greatest risks for infants born before 34 weeks gestation is developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious inflammation of their intestines that can lead to surgery, or poor long-term outcomes. The use of donor human milk decreases the risk of NEC by 80%.

What’s more, babies receiving donated human milk in the NICU have lower rates of serious infections, shorter hospital stays, and higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding upon discharge.

INPATIENTS 

Your baby’s medical team may recommend donor milk to give your baby the best start. Each hospital has its own guidelines for using donor milk but it can also be used for a number of reasons in the hospital including:

  • Prematurity
  • GI conditions including Short Gut Syndrome and Gastroschisis
  • Biliary Atresia
  • Congential Heart Disease
  • Maternal Insufficiency
  • Hypogylcemia

OUTPATIENTS

The Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Center is proud to be a dispensary for processed donor milk.  Sometimes supplementation is required for well babies as mothers work on establishing their milk supplies or work through latching issues. The use of donor milk to bridge the gap as these issues resolve may be a helpful tool to get breastfeeding on track.

Babies and young children being cared for at home may also benefit from donor milk. Typical diagnoses include:

  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
  • Cardiac conditions
  • Failure to Thrive
  • Immune Disorders
  • Inborn Errors of Metabolism
  • Intolerance of Formula
  • Malabsorption Disorders
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
  • Organ Transplantation
  • Post-surgical Nutrition
  • Prematurity (post discharge)
  • Renal Disease
  • Short Gut Syndrome
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II

Outpatient use requires a prescription from your child’s healthcare provider. If you think that donor milk may benefit your child, please contact your health care provider. Do not hesitate to contact us at orders@midatlanticmilkbank.org or 412-281-4400 if you have any questions.

The cost of donor milk for outpatient use may be paid for by insurance. Please consult with your healthcare provider and insurer to inquire about coverage.  We are happy to provide assistance.

We encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider if you feel donor milk may benefit your baby.

If you have any questions regarding milk . or receiving processed milk for your child, please call our center at 610-366-7676 or email us at info@lvbreastfeedingcom