Donor Human Milk – what is it?
Donor human milk (DHM) is donated by mothers who have extra milk to spare. Donors are screened, including blood tests, to make sure their milk is suitable. The milk is also tested for bacteria and heat treated. Like donating blood the milk is freely donated, and its use tracked and recorded.
In the UK, like many countries, DHM is available for some babies whose mothers may not have enough of their own breastmilk in the early days. Other feeds include infant formula which is usually made from cow’s milk but doesn’t have all of the benefits of human milk.
Donor Human Milk – Why donate it?
Local, national and global recommendations support the use of donor human milk, especially for babies who are born early, are very small or sick. Most of the babies getting donor human milk are being cared for in a neonatal unit. It is offered for the first few days but sometimes can be for longer. We also provide about 2 weeks of donor milk for mums at home who can’t breastfeed due to medical circumstances.
Donor human milk can also be used to support breastfeeding in the first day or two. Some babies may require a little extra milk while waiting for mums milk supply. You can read Eilidh’s story below.
Eilidh’s story: Donor Human Milk – supporting breastfeeding
New mum Eilidh leaned on the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Milk Bank to breastfeed her son.
“To put it simply, the milk bank and provision of donor milk is the reason I’ve been fortunate enough to breastfeed my son. He arrived at 37 weeks and had a short stay in the NICU, and donor milk allowed him to get a great start while we were separated in those early days.
“I had some challenges with breast feeding at the start – my milk took a while to come in, expressing wasn’t yielding the volumes he needed to gain weight and latching was hard, but the milk bank and provision of donor milk meant that, while all these issues were ironed out, he continued to get all the goodness he needed from donated breast milk. This set him up for when I was able to give him what he needed.
“We are so grateful to the women who donate their milk and allow this service to be available to those who need it,” said Eilidh.
Mothers are supported to collect their colostrum and to express frequently. This helps to establish their own milk supply. There is lots of information about expressing, breast feeding and early feeding challenges at RHC Neonatal Infant Feeding.
Donor human milk provides easily digested nutrition along with many anti-infective and other active components that help protect baby’s immature tummies and keep them healthy.
If you would like to donate, please go to the “How to become a donor” section below to access the screening form. You can also arrange a collection of milk from there.
How to become a Donor
Becoming a donor is an amazing step and could help many babies across Scotland. Your own baby is the priority, so we only take milk that is truly surplus to your baby’s needs. The age limit for donation is around two. We can also take stored milk that is less than 90 days old. You can find out about expressing your milk from the Parent Club.
Who can donate milk?
Although you are donating breast milk, it’s similar to becoming a blood donor and there are only a few things that would stop you donating. There is a screening process which includes questions about your medical history, lifestyle and diet.
You can donate milk if:
- you are breast feeding or expressing for your own baby
- you are and remain in good health
- you are able to commit to a period of donating
- you have milk stored appropriately and in acceptable containers
You cannot donate milk if:
- you smoke, vape or are using nicotine replacement therapy
- you take certain medications including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, certain pain killers and high blood pressure medication.
- Please contact the milk bank to discuss medications and herbal remedies you take regularly
You can donate if you have had a piercing, tattoo or blood transfusion but we can’t complete the blood tests until 4 months after this.
Click below for screening:
If you would like more information about donation or to get a paper copy of the screening form, please use the Contact Form and we will get back to as soon as we can.
To arrange milk collection click the Collection Form button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to live near the milk bank?
No, we can collect donor milk from all over mainland Scotland.
Can I donate milk I have already stored in my freezer?
Yes but the milk must be pasteurised within 90 days so it’s important to let the milk bank know as soon as possible so that it can be transported within that time. If you are donating milk already in your freezer, remember to answer the health and lifestyle questions for that time.
Can you use the blood tests I had done antenatally?
No, unfortunately we can’t. We do some extra screening tests which are not covered by your antenatal blood tests.
What happens to the milk?
The milk is tested for unwanted bacteria. All breast milk has bacteria in it, and in normal circumstances these are acceptable and helpful. Because our milk is used to feed premature and sick babies we need to make sure no unwanted bacteria are present.
Once all the screening tests are concluded, the milk is re-labelled and distributed throughout Scotland.
Memory Milk Gift – donation after loss
We believe every family who lose a child before the age of two, should have the choice to donate breast milk in their memory and commemorated on our Memory Milk Tree at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
To find out more about Memory Milk Gift Initiative click the link below.
Donor Human Milk and Milk Kinship
Recipient Information
This information is taken from British Islamic Medical Association leaflet on milk kinship. You can view it by clicking the button below.
You will be supported to express your own milk after birth. Sometimes your milk supply can be delayed, especially in the first few days. If this is the case, you may be offered the option to feed your baby with donor human milk (DHM).
The sharing of breastmilk for a baby in need is halal (permitted) and you can find more in the leaflet mentioned above. However, there is a difference of religious opinion on whether the use of donor breastmilk also creates a family bond/milk kinship relationship.
Donor milk can still be given where milk kinship is believed to be established. This is because donor milk can be traced for milk kinship and marriage reasons in the future. This is highlighted in this resolution:
The Islamic rulings (fatwas), including guidance from the UK, on donor milk can be found
here:
https://www.e-cfr.org/blog/2017/11/04/twelfth-ordinary-session-european-council-fatwaresearch/
https://www.academia.edu/24021307/Islam_and_Milk_Banks
https://www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/Fatwa/Milk-Bank—English
https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A2727947/download#:~:text
=When%20Muslims%20thought%20of%20establishing,impede%20marriage%20in%20Islami
c%20Law
https://www.academia.edu/24021993/Islam_and_the_use_of_donor_human_milk
In the future, if I need to trace my baby’s milk donors for
marriage reasons, how will I do that?
All donor milk given to your baby is traceable using the following details:
*The unique ID numbers of the donor milk fed to your baby – this will be a unique number
with or without letters
*The date it was given
*The name of the milk bank that provided the milk
*The date of baby’s admission and discharge from hospital
You may find it reassuring to also record the above tracking details of all donor milk your child is given, so that you have the details to use in the future if needed. The nursing team looking after your baby will be able to help you with this.
In Scotland, all donor milk bottles have 3 tear off barcode labels which contain the information about the milk your baby is receiving. These barcodes would allow us to check who the donor is. One of the tear offs could be kept by you to check for milk kinship in the future. All of these details will also be in your child’s medical records at the hospital that cared for your child. The milk bank keeps records of all donors indefinitely.
Whilst donor breastmilk is not pooled (mixed) from different donors here in the UK, your baby may be given donor breastmilk from more than one donor. You will be able to check if a future spouse is a milk sibling through the process described above. For an illustrated flow chart, use the button to go to the BIMA website.
It is your choice as a parent, and your decision will be respected by your doctors and nurses. Donor breastmilk is offered because babies benefit from breastmilk as it is easily digested and contains immune boosting components that are only found in breastmilk.
Babies who are fed only breastmilk have been shown to have increased protection from developing infections and serious gut complications.
We know it can be hard to make a decision at such a difficult time, but please know that you are not alone. Your doctors and nurses will support you in your decision making and help with all your feeding questions.