Receive Donor Breast Milk In Australia
Looking to receive milk for your little one?
Mothers Milk Bank Charity helps families across Australia access screened and pasteurised donor human milk when a parent’s own milk is unavailable or does not fully meet their baby’s needs.
Whether you’re preparing for birth, establishing your milk supply, caring for a premature or medically vulnerable baby, or exploring donor milk for another reason, our team can help you understand the options available.
WHAT IS DONOR BREAST MILK?
Donor breast milk, also known as donor human milk, is breast milk generously expressed and donated by a mother to help another baby or family.
At Mothers Milk Bank Charity, prospective donors complete a health and lifestyle screening process, including blood testing and a review of relevant medications and health information. Accepted donor milk is then carefully handled, pasteurised and tested as part of our milk bank’s safety and quality processes before being made available to recipient families.
Donor human milk can provide an important feeding option when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or does not fully meet her baby’s needs. Families seek donor milk for many different reasons, including premature birth, medical circumstances, challenges establishing milk supply, surrogacy, adoption and other individual situations.
Every bottle begins with the generosity of a breastfeeding mother choosing to donate her excess milk to help another family.
WHO CAN RECEIVE DONOR BREAST MILK?
Families seek donor breast milk for many different reasons. At Mothers Milk Bank Charity, we support families across Australia who are exploring donor human milk when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or does not fully meet her baby’s needs.
Families who may enquire about receiving donor breast milk include those with:
- A premature or medically vulnerable baby
- A baby with a low birth weight
- A temporary delay in establishing or increasing breast milk supply
- A low milk supply that does not currently meet their baby’s needs
- Maternal illness, medical treatment, hospitalisation or separation
- A history of breast surgery that may affect milk supply
- A baby born through surrogacy
- An adopted or foster baby
- Other individual circumstances where donor milk may be considered
You can also register your interest before your baby is born if you believe donor milk may be needed after birth.
Donor milk availability can vary depending on current supply and the needs of recipient families. Registering your interest allows our team to understand your circumstances and guide you through the options that may be available.
Ready to enquire about donor milk? Complete our recipient registration form and our team will help you understand the next steps.
HOW TO RECEIVE DONOR BREAST MILK
Receiving donor breast milk through Mothers Milk Bank Charity starts by registering your interest with our team.
1. Register your interest
Complete our recipient registration form with information about your baby and your circumstances.
2. We review your registration
Our team will review the information provided and contact you if any additional details are required.
3. Access donor milk
You can view the donor milk options currently available. Collection and delivery options vary depending on your location, the type of donor milk required and the quantity ordered.
HOW IS DONOR BREAST MILK MADE SAFE?
Donor breast milk supplied through Mothers Milk Bank Charity goes through a carefully controlled process designed to reduce risk and protect recipient babies.
Our milk bank process includes:
- Donor health and lifestyle screening
- Blood testing for specified transmissible infections
- Review of relevant medications and health information
- Controlled collection, transport and storage
- Pasteurisation of accepted donor milk
- Quality and microbiological testing
- Controlled storage and distribution
These safeguards provide families with reassurance that donated milk has been screened and processed through a formal human milk banking program.
WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE DONOR BREAST MILK?
Every family’s feeding journey is different. While a mother’s own breast milk is generally the first choice when it is available and appropriate, there are times when providing enough milk for a baby may not be possible.
Donor human milk can provide another option for families who would like their baby to receive human milk when their own supply is unavailable or does not fully meet their baby’s needs.
Families may consider donor milk for many reasons, including premature birth, low milk supply, maternal illness or medical treatment, separation after birth, surrogacy, adoption or other individual circumstances.
Supporting Premature and Medically Vulnerable Babies
Donor human milk has an important role in neonatal care, particularly for premature and medically vulnerable babies when their mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient.
For babies receiving medical care, decisions about feeding, quantities and any additional nutritional requirements should be made with the healthcare professionals caring for the baby.
Supporting Families Beyond the Hospital
The need for donor milk does not always end when a family leaves hospital.
Some parents use donor milk temporarily while establishing or increasing their own milk supply, while others may require support for a longer period depending on their individual circumstances.
Mothers Milk Bank Charity helps families explore the donor milk options that may be available to them, both during the newborn period and beyond.
Every Family’s Situation Is Different
There is no single reason why a family may need donor breast milk.
Our role is to provide families with clear information, access to screened and pasteurised donor human milk where available, and compassionate support throughout the process.
If you are unsure whether donor milk may be suitable for your baby, you can register your interest and speak with our team about your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is donor breast milk safe?
Donor breast milk supplied through Mothers Milk Bank Charity goes through a controlled milk bank process designed to reduce risk. This includes donor health and lifestyle screening, blood testing, pasteurisation, quality testing and controlled storage and handling.
These safeguards provide families with reassurance that donated milk has been screened and processed through a formal human milk banking program.
Can anyone receive donor breast milk?
Families seek donor milk for many different reasons, and you are welcome to register your interest with Mothers Milk Bank Charity.
Availability can vary depending on current donor milk supply and your family’s circumstances. Our team will review your registration and help you understand the options that may be available.
Can I register before my baby is born?
Yes. You can register your interest in receiving donor breast milk before your baby is born.
Registering early can be particularly helpful if you expect that donor milk may be required following birth, as it gives our team time to understand your circumstances and discuss the available options.
Do I need a doctor’s referral to receive donor milk?
You do not require a doctor’s referral to make an enquiry. You can begin by completing our recipient registration form.
Our team will review the information provided and let you know if any additional medical information or supporting documentation is required for your circumstances.
How much does donor breast milk cost?
Milk is supplied on a cost recovery basis.
The mothers who donate their breast milk to Mothers Milk Bank Charity are not paid for their milk.
Recipient fees contribute towards the costs involved in safely operating a human milk bank, including donor screening, blood testing, pasteurisation, quality testing, processing, packaging, frozen storage and distribution.
You can view our current donor milk options and pricing through the MMBC shop.
How quickly can I receive donor breast milk?
Timing depends on current donor milk availability, your registration, location and the collection or delivery option required.
If you think your family may need donor milk, we recommend registering your interest as early as possible so our team can discuss the options currently available.
How much donor milk will my baby need?
Every baby is different. The amount of milk required can depend on factors such as your baby’s age, weight, health, feeding plan and how much of your own breast milk is available.
For individual feeding quantities or medical nutritional requirements, we recommend speaking with the healthcare professional caring for your baby.
Did you know that..
The bacteria help to lower the risk of asthma, obesity, allergies, dermatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Breastmilk is the perfect food and optimal nutrition for all infants, newborn and especially premature babies.
Over 40,000 babies have adverse reactions to infant formula each year.
When a mother, parent or carer cannot breastfeed or breastmilk is not available for any reason, donor breastmilk from Mothers Milk Bank Charity is the best and safest next option.
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“Human Milk, Tailor-Made for Tiny Humans” is an independent advertising initiative created by a small team of parents, focussing on the composition of human milk and the science of breastfeeding