Key takeaways: Milk banks screen donors and pasteurize milk, and the AAP recommends pasteurized donor milk when a mother’s own milk isn’t available for preterm or high-risk babies. Informal milk sharing and buying milk online carry risks such as infection, contamination, and drugs. If you consider sharing, talk with your doctor about how to lower risks.
Donor milk can be an important option when a parent’s own milk isn’t enough. How it’s sourced matters.
Milk Bank Donor Milk
Nonprofit milk banks in the U.S. and Canada are often accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). They:
- Screen donors with health questions and blood tests.
- Pool and pasteurize milk to kill bacteria and viruses.
- Test milk for bacteria after pasteurization.
Pasteurization reduces some components, such as some immune cells and enzymes, but donor milk keeps many benefits.
Who Gets It
- Preterm and sick babies in the NICU are the main recipients. Donor milk lowers the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious bowel disease, compared with formula.
- Some hospitals offer it to healthy newborns who need short-term supplementation.
- Outpatient use may require a prescription and can be expensive, though some insurers or programs cover it.
From the author
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Informal Milk Sharing
Some families share milk with friends, family, or through online groups. This is not regulated.
Possible risks:
- Infections (such as HIV, hepatitis, and others).
- Bacterial contamination from improper handling or storage.
- Medications, drugs, alcohol, or nicotine in the milk.
- Milk mixed with cow’s milk or water.
A 2013 study by Keim and colleagues found high rates of bacterial contamination in milk bought online, and later research found some samples had cow’s milk added.
If You Consider Informal Sharing
The FDA recommends against feeding babies milk from unscreened sources. If you still consider it, talk with your doctor about how to lower the risk, such as knowing the donor well, asking about health and medications, and safe handling.
Becoming a Donor
If you have extra milk, contact a HMBANA milk bank about donating. Donors are screened and give milk to babies who need it most.
Talk to your baby’s doctor about the safest supplement options for your baby.
The Bottom Line
Pasteurized milk bank donor milk is the safest donor option. Informal sharing has real risks; talk with your doctor if you’re considering it.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Related Articles
- Pumping for a Baby in the NICU
- Cord Blood Banking: Public vs. Private
- Delayed Cord Clamping: What It Is and Why It Matters
- How to Choose an Infant Formula (Hint: Store Brands Are Fine)
Sources
- Committee on Nutrition; Section on Breastfeeding; Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Donor human milk for the high-risk infant: preparation, safety, and usage options in the United States. Pediatrics. 2017;139(1):e20163440.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Use of donor human milk. https://www.fda.gov
- Keim SA, Hogan JS, McNamara KA, et al. Microbial contamination of human milk purchased via the internet. Pediatrics. 2013;132(5):e1227-e1235.
- Human Milk Banking Association of North America. https://www.hmbana.org
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
