Receive Milk

“Cynthia and Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast have been so helpful. I could not have come this far without them. Anthony’s good health progress is attributed to pasteurized human breast milk. My anxiety has subsided since I know that Anthony is getting the best possible source of nutrition. Thank you to all the mothers who donate human breast milk. You are truly making a difference, one tummy at a time!” Baby Anthony’s Story

A mother’s own breast milk is nearly always baby’s best first food; however, it is sometimes not available. In such cases, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the US Surgeon General, the World Health Organization, and others, safely pasteurized donor human milk is the next best option.

Reasons to Receive

Donor milk can be used as a temporary bridge until mother’s own milk comes in, or longer term as needed.

A baby might need donor milk for many reasons, including:

low milk supply
preterm birth
failure to thrive
weight loss
malabsorption syndromes
feeding/formula intolerance
immunologic deficiencies
pre- or post-operative nutrition
low blood sugar
high bilirubin levels
baby’s inability to latch
cleft/lip palate
tongue/lip tie
maternal health complications
“bridge” milk to supplement baby until mother can feed
adoption

Ordering Requires a Prescription

Babies receiving donor milk at home as outpatients require a prescription from a medical professional. Babies receiving donor milk in the hospital receive it through the NICU or nursery.

If your hospital doesn’t have a donor milk program, you may still be allowed to bring some in. Please email our Orders Department or call 617-527-6263 x4 to inquire.

Safe Milk Requires a Processing Fee

Using a HMBANA-certified milk bank like Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast is the best way to ensure that your donor milk is safely screened, processed and distributed.

There is a charge for pasteurized donor human milk because of the process that makes it safe—thorough screening of donors, testing, pasteurizing, and careful shipping.

Financial Assistance

If your baby has a prescription for donor milk and you are facing financial difficulties, you may qualify for our Special Assistance Program. Read more about the program here.

Insurance Coverage

If your baby is already home, then you must purchase the milk yourself. Although it is rare, health insurance occasionally covers some or all of the cost, so we encourage you to call your company to request coverage. For military families, TRICARE covers donor milk from HMBANA milk banks for certain conditions, when prescribed by a TRICARE-authorized provider. Currently Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, California, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Utah and Washington, DC mandate Medicaid coverage. Advocacy for coverage in other states is ongoing.

Storing, Defrosting, and Warming Pasteurized Frozen Human Milk

Thawing pasteurized donor human milk is easy. Please click on the following downloadable link for information on how to ensure that your donor milk is safely stored, defrosted and warmed, and ready to feed your baby.

Medical Professionals

To order donor milk for a hospital, you must start by opening an account. We also have a booklet about starting a hospital-based donor milk program that you can download.

As described above, outpatients require a prescription to receive donor milk.

How to Order Milk

For more information on receiving donor milk, please email our Orders Department or call 617-527-6263 x4.

Outpatient Donor Milk Dispensaries

Families who live near Belmont, New Hampshire; Lewiston, Maine; Northampton, MA; or Essex Junction, VT may be able to pick up milk at one of our four donor milk dispensaries. To learn more, visit our Donor Milk Dispensaries page.