I am breastfeeding my baby and have an abundant supply. I'd like to donate milk for sick babies. Can you tell me how to do this?

It's true that there are many babies who need human milk to survive, but whose mothers are unable to provide it. Banked milk is especially helpful for premature infants, because it is so much easier to digest than other alternatives. However, La Leche League does not organize or coordinate milk donations.

There are currently ten human milk banks in operation in the United States, and other countries also have milk banks. An organization you might want to contact for more information is the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). You can find a fairly current list of milk banks in North America in this article as well. In the UK you can contact www.ukamb.org.

Recommended Reading: Our resource page on Milk Banking and Milk Sharing.

Our FAQs present information from La Leche League International on topics of interest to parents of breastfed children. Not all of the information may be pertinent to your family's lifestyle. This information is general in nature and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise. If you have a serious breastfeeding problem or concern, you are strongly encouraged to talk directly to a La Leche League Leader. Please consult health care professionals on any medical issue, as La Leche League Leaders are not medical practitioners.

Page last edited Wed Nov 12 17:56:36 UTC 2008.