WHY BANK MILK?
WE ARE WORKING TOWARD THE DAY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO COLLECT ENOUGH MILK TO PROVIDE FOR ALL THE BABIES WHO NEED IT.
Some moms give their milk directly to the parents of babies in need, an exchange known as casual sharing. The intent behind casual sharing is a caring act of sisterhood. But we believe strongly that it’s important to go the extra mile to have the surplus milk tested in a lab to make absolutely sure that it’s safe for any baby.
WHO WE ARE
We promote the health of babies and mothers through the provision of safe pasteurized donor milk and support of breastfeeding.
Over the past 30 years, nonprofit milk banks have opened in cities across the United States and Canada.
Our milk banks receive surplus milk and dispense it after the donated milk is pasteurized and tested. Most of our recipients are infants in neo-natal intensive care units (NICUs).
THE FRESHEST NEWS
2017 World Breastfeeding Week,
National Breastfeeding Month and
Black Breastfeeding Week -
Milk Bank Media Resource
June 28, 2017 - Public Call for Nominations to Board of Directors, Human Milk Banking
Association of North America (HMBANA)
VIEW ARCHIVED NEWS
WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
Donor Milk from HMBANA milk banks is safe from Zika Virus
Updated statement as of September 1, 2016
Even as Zika virus outbreaks continue to be identified in the U.S. and abroad, HMBANA affirms that donor human milk is safe for even the most vulnerable infants. This assurance is based upon two primary HMBANA standards for milk safety: screening of all milk donors for risk factors, and pasteurizing of all donor human milk prior to dispensing. HMBANA and its member milk banks are committed to ongoing vigilance about the emerging research regarding the Zika, its transmission, and its implications for those affected.
HMBANA Statement on Hurricane Harvey
August 31, 2017 – Fort Worth, TX - Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and its 26 member milk banks, stand ready to support donor milk needs in Houston and surrounding areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey. We will continue to assure that premature and fragile babies in need receive life-saving donor milk until their own mothers are able to provide it for them.
HMMBANA Statement on Hurricane Irma
Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA)
Supports Donor Milk Needs Due to Hurricane Irma
10 September, 2017 - Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and its 26 member milk banks, stand ready to support donor milk needs in Florida and other areas impacted by Hurricane Irma. We will continue to assure that premature and fragile babies in need receive life-saving donor milk until their own mothers are able to provide it for them.
THE HISTORY OF MILK BANKING
At the dawn of the twentieth century, nearly all children were human milk fed - either maternally breastfed or provided with donated human milk. Over the next one hundred years, a number of dramatic changes took place including the replacement of human milk by artificial feeding products. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, human milk feeding was once again the recommended method of infant feeding. Experts recommend breastfeeding exclusively for six months and the introduction of age appropriate foods with breast milk to remain in the diet for two years and beyond. When maternal milk is inadequate or lacking particularly for high risk or premature infants pasteurized donor milk is the next best option. Donor milk banking plays an important role in meeting these recommendations.
MISSION
HMBANA advances the field of non-profit milk banking through member accreditation, development of evidence-based best practices, and advocacy of breastfeeding and human lactation to ensure an ethically sourced and equitably distributed supply of donor human milk.
Vision
HMBANA believes in a world where all infants have access to human milk through support of breastfeeding and use of donor human milk.
POSITION PAPERS ON DONOR MILK BANKING
Learn more about HMBANA's position on the value of human milk, including current research and the rights of mothers and infants. HMBANA Position Paper on Donor Milk Banking (pdf)
Ethical and safety considerations for milk donation: Donor Human Milk: Ensuring Safety and Ethical Allocation (pdf)
MEMBERSHIP
Associate Institutional (non-voting)
$40.00/year (any hospital or professional group committed to the concept of donor milk as part of medical treatment)
Individual (non-voting)
$30.00/year (any interested individual in the health professions, research, or the community)
WHO DO WE SERVE
Currently there are 18 HMBANA member milk banks (see Milk Bank Locations) providing human donor milk to the US and Canada. In the US in 2014, HMBANA banks served 50 states and 264 cities and in Canada, 3 provinces and 7 cities.
ACCREDITATION
Each HMBANA milk bank is assessed yearly and required to provide evidence of adherence to the most recent edition of "Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of a Donor Human Milk Bank," published annually by HMBANA.