Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast In Newton Needs Milk Donors

NEWTON, MA — Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, a Newton-based nonprofit human milk bank serving over 90 hospitals as well as outpatients, is facing a critical need for new milk donors.

Hospital and outpatient demand for pasteurized donor human milk has increased by 15 percent since March 2021, according to the organization. Demand will soon outpace supply unless new milk donors volunteer for screening.

“Milk banks, like blood banks, are facing an urgent need for donors,” said Deborah Youngblood, Executive Director of Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast. “Most blood donors can donate over many years, but there is only a brief window when a lactating person can donate. If you have milk in your freezer, you could save a baby’s life right now.”

Pasteurized donor human milk can be lifesaving for preterm infants and is especially protective against a life-threatening conditions called necrotizing enterocolitis, which affects one in ten of the smallest preterm infants. A human milk diet is estimated to lower the risk of this condition by 79 percent and also lowers hospital costs.

“Pasteurized donor human milk is not just food for premature babies; it’s medicine,” said Dr. Robert Insift, Medical Director of Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast. "With more hospitals offering donor milk as standard of care, we need to ensure an ample supply so that no baby who needs donor milk ever goes without it."

Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast collects milk from mothers who have more milk than their babies
need, screens, pasteurizes, and tests the milk, and dispenses it to babies whose mothers do
not have enough milk for them. Milk donor screening, modeled after blood donor screening,
includes health history, physician approval, and blood test. Milk from mothers who pass the
screening is also pasteurized and tested by an independent lab.

Healthy lactating women who wish to learn more and start the screening can visit the milk
bank’s website, email [email protected], or call 617-527-6263 ext. 3.