Mothers unable to provide breast milk can nourish their babies with pasteurized donor milk. Why use a breast milk depot or donor milk? Infants benefit greatly from breast milk, especially those who are premature, ill or have life-threatening conditions. Human milk is the ultimate source of nutrients and immune protection for infants. Babies benefit from the active growth hormones, developmental en
zymes, infection fighting and immunological factors found in breast milk. Research shows that breast milk helps
pre-term infants:
• Reach full feeds sooner and need fewer IVs
• Mature their intestines faster
• Spend fewer days in the hospital
• Reduce risk of necrotizing enterocolitis
(a bowel disease)
• Reduce risk of sepsis (blood infection) and
fewer infections
• Experience long-term IQ advantages over
formula-fed infants
• Be healthier as older children and adults
Quality and safety is ensured:
The Mothers’ Milk Depot at Infirmary Health relies on donations from healthy, lactating women who generously provide milk to help other babies. The donated milk is pasteurized, frozen and distributed per physician prescription by Mothers’ Milk Bank of Alabama. Step-by-step process to donate breast milk
To become a volunteer donor, mothers must take part in a stringent screening process to ensure the quality and safety of the milk. Donors must:
• Participate in an initial phone screening to
verify eligibility
• Receive and read the Mothers’ Milk Depot
information packet
• Participate in a medical and lifestyle history review
• Complete a medical release form signed by the donor and healthcare provider for both the donor and baby
• Consent to and receive a comprehensive blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV,
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis
For more information about becoming a milk donor, call 205.942.8911 ext. 117email kwood@mmbal.org, or click on ‘how to donate’ on the website mmbal.org.
