Could you be a human milk bank donor?

What is the human milk bank?

It is a place where human milk is collected, processed and stored. This milk is made available to sick babies in hospitals and other specialist baby units throughout Ireland.

Why be a human milk bank donor?

Donors are mothers who are breastfeeding their own babies but have excess milk and are prepared to help other babies, by donating some of their breastmilk. This gesture can help tiny, premature, sick babies survive and leave hospital more quickly.

Could you be a human milk bank donor?

Yes, if you are a healthy breastfeeding mother and can give extra milk to the human milk bank on a regular basis.

If you want to become a donor you should:

How do you donate your breastmilk?

All you have to do is express some milk, and store in the bottles provided. These bottles should be kept in the bottom of your freezer at home.

The milk is taken to the human milk bank where it is processed and stored until needed by the hospitals. The good news about being a donor is that you will always have some milk in your freezer for your own baby!

Then contact for more information:

Ann McCrea, Lactation Consultant,
Human Milk Bank (Western Health and Social Care Trust),
Irvinestown,
Co Fermanagh,
N Ireland,
Telephone: +44 (0) 28 6862 8333

If you decide donating is for you we recommend an initial trial period of two weeks. After that the milk bank co-ordinator will see you with a view to becoming a regular donor.

When can you start to donate some of your breastmilk?

You can donate breastmilk anytime after the birth of your baby, the sooner the better! We do ask our milk donors to undergo a blood test before the bank can use their milk. The milk bank co-ordinator will explain this in more detail.

Further Information