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.*
Requesting Milk For Your Family
Donor milk is a limited medical resource. It is prioritized for hospitalized infants. Demand for donor milk is rising and we have limited ability to provide milk to families in our communities. We recognize that this is disappointing and understand that donor milk provides benefits to babies at home too.
When we have milk beyond what our inpatient families require, families can order it here:
First Time Outpatient: This option is for first time outpatient purchasers only. It does not require a prescription and has a purchase maximum of 10 bottles.
Outpatient With A Prescription: This option is for repeat purchasers i.e. families who have already made their first purchase. This form does require a prescription.
We urge you to consider supporting our milk bank through milk or financial contributions if you are ever able to do so. Your generous support will enable future growth so that donor milk is more widely available.
Outpatient Donor Milk Dispensaries
Families who live near Northampton, MA; Glastonbury, CT; Lewiston, ME; Portland, ME; Belmont, NH; Lebanon, NH; or Essex Junction, VT may be able to pick up milk at one of our donor milk dispensaries. To learn more, visit our Donor Milk Dispensaries page. If you would like to pick up milk at any of our dispensaries please contact them directly.
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
When we have the capacity to serve outpatients, we offer financial assistance through our CARES (Critical Access Resource Equity Subsidy) and our GIFT (Growing Infants For Tomorrow) Programs. If your baby has a prescription for donor milk and you are facing financial difficulties, please click here to learn more about these programs.
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, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Utah, Illinois, Oregon, Louisiana, Kentucky and Washington, DC have Medicaid and/or insurance mandates or coverage provisions. Advocacy for coverage in other states is ongoing.
Medical Professionals
To order donor milk for a hospital, see our resources for medical professionals.
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*Donor milk can be used as a temporary bridge until mother’s own milk comes in, or longer term as needed. Visit our Prescribing Donor Milk page to see some of the reasons a baby might need donor milk.
