In our local area there are 2 formal options for milk donation:

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1) Human Milk Bank Association of North America (HMBANA) Milk Banks:* 

Mother's Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes - Located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, MMBWGL has milk depots located in Dane County to collect donor milk which is then processed in Illinois.  Local hospital neonatal intensive care units in Dane County use pasteurized donor milk from MMBWGL.  Breast milk for these babies is considered vital to the survival of vulnerable newborns.

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Guidelines for expressing and storing milk:
Donating mothers should start with the following practices for expressing and storing milk: Donor Guidelines for Pumping and Handling. These guidelines are used by the Mother's Milk Alliance based on best practice recommendations from: Human Milk Banking Association of North America, Best Practice for Expressing, Storing and Handling Human Milk in Hospitals, Homes, and Child Care Settings. Frances Jones, 3rd Ed., 2011

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Many milk banks have a minimum donation requirement (example: 100 ounces). However, in the case of bereavement (pregnancy or infant loss) these minimums are waived.  ANY amount of milk will be accepted from bereaved mothers by the organization listed here.

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*HMBANA (Human Milk Banking Association of North America) establishes guidelines for collection, storage and handling of human milk, acts as a clearinghouse for member milk banks in collecting and distributing human milk.  HMBANA, 4455 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 114-88, Fort Worth, TX 76107, (817)810-9984     http://www.hmbana.org/       Web site includes contact information for milk banks in North America.