Donor FAQ’s
How do I know if I am a candidate to donate milk? Almost any nursing mother can donate. If you are healthy with a good medical history, you are a likely candidate. You will need to complete a medical survey, have your blood tested for diseases and give a cheek cell sample at no cost to you. You will be informed of any test results that would indicate a health problem so that you can follow up with your doctor. If all of your results are fine, you can begin donating. Why should I donate? There is a critical shortage of human milk needed for critically ill and preterm babies. If you have extra milk, it can be processed and provided for these babies to help them grow and stay well. Many moms donate their extra milk to help babies in need because they have had a preterm baby in the past or know someone who has had that experience. Milk donors report a sense of satisfaction knowing they are providing their milk to help premature or sick infants. When can I start expressing milk for the milk bank? You should establish breastfeeding for your own baby before you begin donating. We recommend you wait three to four weeks after your baby's birth to begin donating and then only do so if your baby is doing well and gaining weight. When should I express? When and how often you express your milk is up to you. Most donors find it easier to set a time each day to express milk. Most mothers have more milk in the morning, so mornings are a good time to pump. It can be harder to collect milk if you do not express it regularly. Some moms express from one breast while their babies feed from the other. Will I have enough milk for my baby if I donate? Your body makes milk on a supply and demand basis and adjusts to the amount of milk needed. If you are worried about your baby getting enough milk, you can express an hour or so after feeding your baby. If your baby's doctor is happy with your baby's weight gain, there is no need to worry about having enough milk. How much milk should I express? This is up to you. There are no rules about how much you should express. Different donors produce different amounts of milk at different times of the day. What works for one mom may not work for another. Find out what works best for you and your baby. And remember, even small amounts of milk can feed several very small babies. In fact, two ounces of expressed milk can feed a premature baby for up to one to two days. What equipment will I need as a donor? The milk bank provides each donor with all necessary equipment. You will be issued an electric breast pump that is yours to keep. It comes complete with instructions for use and cleaning. You will also be provided with pre labeled bottles with filling instructions, and a thermometer to ensure that your freezer is operating at the proper temperature. How do I prepare to express my milk? Because you are pumping for critically ill babies, it is very important to carefully wash your hands and clean your fingernails in warm, soapy water. If you garden, or work with plants and soil, take extra time to thoroughly wash your hands because harmful toxins can be transmitted from your hands to the pumped milk. Some of these toxins are dangerous to babies and are not killed through pasteurization. Your donated milk will be tested for these toxins and if they are found, your milk will be discarded. After washing, rinse your hands well and dry them using a clean paper towel. Do not handle
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Donor FAQ’s
your pump or your collection bottles until you have washed your hands. If you shower daily, you do not need to wash your breasts before pumping. Breast massage sometimes helps the flow of milk. After massaging the breast, roll the nipple back and forth using your index finger and thumb. Stretch the nipple slightly. This will encourage the release of hormones that help the flow of milk. How should I store the milk prior to shipping? Pump directly into the provided bottles. Do not touch the inside of the lid or bottle. Always leave space at the top of the bottle for expansion. Freeze the milk immediately after expressing. Full bottles should be stored in a container or bag, separate from other foods in the freezer. If you are donating milk that you have previously collected, please contact the milk bank with the collection dates and to receive special instructions. What if I have taken medications? Check with your milk bank about any medications you are taking, including over-the-counter remedies (those you can buy without a prescription from your doctor). The milk bank will tell you whether you qualify to donate while taking your medications. What if I am ill? Please contact the milk bank whenever you are feeling ill or if anyone in the family is ill. They will tell you that you should stop donating until your illness passes and advise when it is okay to resume pumping for donation. Can I drink alcohol while donating? Your milk bank will accept milk from donors consuming up to two units of alcohol per day (a unit is equal to one glass of wine, one beer or one shot of liquor). What do I do if I go out of town? This is up to you. Expressing when you are away from home can help you maintain your milk supply, especially if you are away from your baby. However, finding freezer space and transporting the milk may create problems and if your baby is with you, you will maintain your milk supply without pumping. You can always stop expressing while you are away and then resume when you return home. How do I get the milk to the Milk Bank? You will need to bring the milk to the milk bank or in some cases; the milk bank may provide you with a cold shipping contain to ship the milk to them. We usually ask that you donate your milk within two weeks of expression; however, if you have been pumping and storing milk prior to becoming a donor, we will accept milk that has been stored for up to one year Does the milk bank have a confidentiality policy? Any health information collected about donors remains confidential. Babies who get donor milk also remain anonymous unless their parents agree to share the health information. Will only babies receive my donated milk? Nearly all the breast milk donated will go to sick babies in hospitals after processing at Prolacta Bioscience. Following screening, testing, formulation and processing, the specialized milk formulations are sold to hospitals for use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A small portion of your donated milk may be used for ongoing research related to levels of disease-fighting components and other projects designed to help improve outcomes for preterm and critically ill babies.
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Donor FAQ’s
Breast milk does have uses for adult diseases as well. People with cancer drink breast milk to calm their stomachs after chemotherapy, bolster their immune systems and help digest food. It has also been used for burn patients and people who have undergone organ transplants. If you are interested in donating your milk for these other uses, contact one of the 6 milk banks associated with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). Prolacta Bioscience provides milk only for sick and preterm babies and does not provide milk for adult consumption. Will I be paid for my donations? Donors are not paid for their milk. For a variety of reasons, donors in the US are not paid for their breast milk. However, we do cover all related expenses and all donors are given an electric breast pump to keep, even after donations have stopped. The milk bank does receive payment from Prolacta Bioscience for the milk it collects. This payment is intended to defray the costs of operating the milk bank and allows the milk bank to provide lactation support services to the local community. What if I only want to make a one time donation? I’ve been pumping extra milk for months and I have more than my baby will ever take. One time donations are welcome. Please contact your milk bank to discuss how much you have in storage, how long it has been stored, and how to go through the donor qualification process. Does Prolacta give the milk to hospitals or sell it? Is Prolacta a nonprofit company? Prolacta Bioscience sells the milk to hospitals for use with critically ill babies. Although your donated milk forms the precious raw material needed by these infants, extensive testing, formulation and processing must be done so that doctors can feel confident that the human milk formulations they give their patients is as safe as possible. In order to provide this processing and formulation, millions of dollars were invested in processing equipment and testing. Much like the blood banking industry, the blood is donated by individuals, tested, processed and sold by blood processors. Prolacta Bioscience is a for profit company that has built a business model that is sustainable so that parents of preterm babies can trust that there will be a ready source of human milk formulations when babies need it. What resources are available if I have more questions? Call your local milk bank for more information. What is the time frame for accepting previously-collected breast milk? Currently, milk that has been properly frozen for 12 months can be accepted. After lactation begins, how long can a nursing mother donate to NMB? There is no time limit on how long you can donate your milk. All donors’ milk is tested for nutritional content. Since Prolacta Bioscience blends and formulates the milk specifically for preterm babies, there is less concern about minor variations in nutrients that may occur later in lactation.
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