Receiving Donor Milk FAQs
If you’re considering donor breast milk for your baby, it’s natural to have questions about safety, eligibility, costs and how the process works.
Mothers Milk Bank Charity (MMBC) helps families across Australia access screened and pasteurised donor human milk when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient.
This guide answers common questions about receiving donor milk, including screening, pasteurisation, storage, preparation and registration.
WITHIN THESE FAQS
These FAQs answer common questions about receiving donor breast milk through Mothers Milk Bank Charity.
You’ll learn about:
– Who can receive donor breast milk and how to register.
– How donors are screened and milk is pasteurised and tested.
– The differences between frozen and freeze-dried donor milk.
– How to store, prepare and handle donor milk.
– Costs, availability and delivery options across Australia.
Our aim is to help you understand the options available and make informed decisions about feeding your baby.
Embracing donor milk
Every family’s feeding journey is different.
Some parents explore donor milk while establishing their own milk supply. Others may need additional support because of premature birth, medical circumstances, surrogacy, adoption or other individual situations.
When a mother’s own breast milk is unavailable or insufficient, screened and pasteurised donor human milk may provide another feeding option.
Mothers Milk Bank Charity supports families across Australia by providing clear information and access to donor milk where available.
If you’re unsure whether donor milk is suitable for your baby, our team can help you understand the next steps.
SAFETY
Is donor breast milk safe?
Donor breast milk supplied through Mothers Milk Bank Charity undergoes a controlled milk-banking process designed to reduce potential risks.
Our safety and quality procedures include donor health and lifestyle screening, blood testing, review of relevant medications, controlled storage and handling, pasteurisation, microbiological testing and traceability.
These safeguards work together to reduce risk. No biological food or processing system can be considered completely risk-free.
How are breast milk donors screened?
Prospective donors complete a health and lifestyle assessment before their milk can be accepted.
This includes reviewing relevant medical history, medications, supplements and lifestyle factors. Donors also complete required infectious-disease screening blood tests.
Our current screening includes HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, HTLV types 1 and 2, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Only milk meeting MMBC’s donor eligibility and acceptance requirements proceeds through the milk-banking process.
What about alcohol, smoking and medications?
MMBC assesses relevant lifestyle factors and medications as part of its donor screening process.
Certain substances, medications and health circumstances may affect eligibility. Donors must disclose relevant information so our team can assess whether their milk is suitable for donation.
Donors should not stop prescribed medication without consulting their healthcare professional.
Why is donor breast milk pasteurised?
Pasteurisation uses controlled heat treatment to reduce microbiological risks associated with donated human milk.
While pasteurisation can affect some nutritional and biological components, processed donor human milk retains many of the characteristics of human milk.
Pasteurisation is one part of a broader safety process that includes screening, controlled handling, microbiological testing and traceability.
Is donor milk tested after pasteurisation?
Yes. Microbiological and quality testing form part of MMBC’s milk-banking procedures before processed milk is released for distribution.
These checks provide an additional layer of quality assurance alongside donor screening and pasteurisation.
What is the difference between milk-bank donor milk and informal milk sharing?
Informal milk sharing generally involves breast milk being provided directly between individuals, such as friends, relatives or people connected through online groups.
The screening, storage and handling practices used in these arrangements can vary, and informal sharing does not necessarily include formal infectious-disease screening, pasteurisation or microbiological testing.
Milk supplied through MMBC follows a defined process involving donor assessment, screening, pasteurisation, testing and traceability.
Families considering informal milk sharing should discuss potential risks with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more: How donor breast milk is screened, pasteurised and tested
Your baby
Is my baby eligible to receive donor breast milk?
Donor breast milk is not exclusively for premature babies.
Mothers Milk Bank Charity supports families across Australia who are exploring donor human milk when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient.
Families may seek donor milk because of premature birth, low milk supply, maternal illness, medical treatment, surrogacy, adoption or other individual circumstances.
Eligibility and availability depend on each family’s situation and the current supply of donor milk.
If you’re unsure whether donor milk may be suitable for your baby, we encourage you to register your interest.
How can my baby receive donor milk?
The first step is to complete our Recipient Registration Form.
Our team will review the information provided and contact you if any additional details are required.
Once your registration has been reviewed, you can explore the donor milk options currently available. Collection and delivery arrangements depend on your location, the type of donor milk required and the quantity ordered.
Can I register before my baby is born?
Yes. You can register your interest in receiving donor milk before your baby is born.
Registering early can be particularly helpful if you anticipate needing donor milk following birth, as it allows our team to understand your circumstances and explain the available options.
How much donor breast milk does my baby need?
Every baby is different. The amount of milk required depends on factors such as age, weight, gestational age, health, feeding frequency and how much of your own breast milk is available.
Premature and medically vulnerable babies may have specific nutritional requirements.
For individual feeding quantities, we recommend speaking with the healthcare professional caring for your baby rather than relying on a general online calculation.
Can I use donor milk alongside my own breast milk?
Yes. Some families use donor milk to supplement their own expressed breast milk, particularly while establishing or increasing milk supply.
Your own milk and donor milk should be stored and handled according to their respective instructions.
If your baby has specific medical or nutritional needs, discuss the feeding plan with your healthcare professional.
WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS?
Who receives donor breast milk?
Families across Australia seek donor breast milk for many different reasons. Mothers Milk Bank Charity supports eligible families when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or does not fully meet her baby’s needs.
Common circumstances include:
Premature birth or low birth weight.
A temporary delay in establishing breast milk supply.
Low milk supply or difficulties expressing enough milk.
Maternal illness, hospitalisation or medical treatment.
Previous breast surgery or conditions affecting milk production.
Separation between mother and baby.
Surrogacy, adoption or foster care.
Other individual circumstances where donor human milk may be considered.
Donor human milk can be particularly important for premature and medically vulnerable babies. For these infants, feeding decisions should be guided by their neonatal or healthcare team.
Availability depends on current donor milk supply and individual circumstances.
Is donor milk only available to premature babies?
No. Although donor human milk has an established role in neonatal care, MMBC also supports eligible families in the community.
Some families use donor milk temporarily while establishing their own supply, while others may require support for longer periods.
You can register your interest even if your baby was born at full term.
Do you provide donor breast milk to adults?
No. Mothers Milk Bank Charity provides donor human milk for babies and does not supply donor milk for adult consumption.
How do I find out whether my family is eligible?
The best starting point is to complete our Recipient Registration Form.
Our team will review your circumstances and help you understand the options currently available.
COSTS & FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Do you sell donor breast milk?
No. The breast milk supplied through Mothers Milk Bank Charity is generously donated by approved mothers, who are not paid for their milk.
Recipient fees contribute towards the costs of screening, processing, testing, storing and distributing donated human milk.
MMBC operates on a cost-recovery model. Families pay for the services involved in preparing and providing donor milk, rather than purchasing the milk itself.
Why are there fees if MMBC is a charity?
Although the breast milk is donated, operating a human milk bank involves significant costs.
These include:
Donor health and lifestyle screening.
Pathology and blood testing.
Milk collection and transport.
Pasteurisation and microbiological testing.
Processing, packaging and frozen storage.
Equipment, staffing and administration.
Distribution to recipient families.
As a registered charity, MMBC works to make donor human milk accessible while maintaining the screening and quality-control procedures required to operate its service.
Recipient fees help cover these essential operating costs.
Is financial assistance available for families who cannot afford donor milk processing fees?
Families experiencing financial difficulty may contact MMBC to discuss whether financial assistance is available.
For babies with serious medical conditions, a subsidy application may be considered. This may require supporting information from the baby’s treating doctor and review by MMBC’s advisory and medical teams.
Subsidies are not guaranteed and depend on eligibility, available funding and individual circumstances.
We encourage families to contact our team to discuss their situation.
How much does receiving donor breast milk cost?
The total cost depends on the type and quantity of donor milk required, as well as the applicable collection or delivery arrangements.
You can view the current donor milk options and associated processing fees through our online shop.
For more information, read Can You Buy Donor Breast Milk in Australia?.
Ready to Explore Donor Milk for Your Baby?
Every family’s feeding journey is different. If you’re considering donor breast milk, Mothers Milk Bank Charity can help you understand the options available and guide you through the next steps.
Have questions first? Contact our team for guidance.