Breast Milk Donor Qualification Guidelines:

Breast milk donation is a cherished and unique gift. Below are general guidelines to donate milk. Prolacta's proprietary methods for the standardization of human milk provide the highest level of product safety and quality through the elimination of potential infectious agents and other contaminents.
 

If the following apply:

  • You are generally healthy
  • You do not take medication on a regular basis
  • You do not smoke
  • Your home freezer reaches the appropriate temperature

THEN you are LIKELY to qualify as a donor

Contact the Preemies Milk Bank
 

If the following apply:

  • You have had a major illness in the last 12 months
  • You have heart disease or high blood pressure
  • You have had vaccinations or shots in the last 12 months
  • You have had major surgery in the last 12 months
  • You have taken certain medications in the past 1-3 years
  • You take any medications (e.g. prenatal vitamins, thyroid) for longer than 2 weeks
  • You have ever tested positive for tuberculosis
  • You have a history of cancer
  • You have had recent significant weight loss
  • You drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol in moderation
  • You received blood or blood products longer than 12 months ago
  • You take any herbal preparation, teas or supplements for longer than 2 weeks

THEN you MIGHT STILL qualify as a donor

Contact the Preemies Milk Bank for more details
 

If the following apply:

  • You have ever been infected with HIV
  • You are diabetic requiring insulin injections
  • You have ever received human pituitary growth hormone or a dura mater transplant
  • You have a family history or increased risk for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (Mad Cow disease)
  • You have ever injected illegal drugs
  • You have ever had intimate contact with anyone at risk for HIV, HTLV or infectious hepatitis
  • You smoke, use any tobacco product, a nicotine patch or e-cigarette
  • Your baby is breastfed and not gaining weight or growing as well as expected
  • You have been in the UK for 3 months or more cumulatively from 1980 to 1996
  • You have been in Europe for 5 years or more cumulatively from 1980 to present

THEN you DO NOT qualify as a donor.

Miscellaneous Things You Might Need:

  1. Breast pad liners
  2. Prenatal vitamins, but make sure you let Preemies Milk Bank know what you are taking
  3. Nursing bras
  4. Lanolin for sore nipples

Tips for Increased Milk Supply:*

  • Eat healthier, smaller meals
  • Minimize caffeine intake
  • Drink lots of water
  • Pump every 2-3 hours during the day for a total of 20 minutes, or 15 minutes if just pumping on one side
  • Pump every 3-4 hours each night
  • Pump at approximately the same time each day
  • Massage your breast and roll or stretch your nipple
  • Find a relaxing place to pump
*Prolacta does not collect milk from donors who use lactation teas