Donor Milk
There are many benefits to breastfeeding, however, in some special situations, there may be unique challenges to breastfeeding your baby. The safest alternative to your own breastmilk is pasteurized donor milk from a regulated human milk bank. If you choose to use breast milk from another source you need to be aware of any potential risks to your baby. Healthcare providers can help you to make an informed decision and can discuss information on the risks and benefits of all infant feeding options, including the use of donor milk.
Pasteurized Donor Human Milk
Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) is available for certain babies on the Family Newborn and Neonatal Intensive Care Units at IWK Health. At IWK Health there are guidelines to support the use of PDHM including criteria for which babies are eligible. Information on the use of PDHM at IWK Health can be found in the linked pamphlet on the right hand side of this page.
Informal Milk Sharing
When feeding your baby with human milk other than your own, there are possible risks for the baby. When human milk is obtained from people outside of a milk bank, the donor may not have been screened for infectious diseases or other contamination risks. It is also possible that the milk may not have been collected and stored in a way that reduces safety risks to the baby.
Potential Risks for your Baby with Informal Milk Sharing Include:
- Exposure to infectious diseases from viruses or bacteria
- Exposure to chemical contaminants, such as tobacco, alcohol, and/or illegal drugs.
- Exposure to prescription and/or nonprescription drugs
- The milk may have been diluted with water or non-human milk.
For more information on feeding your baby with human milk from sources outside a milk bank, please refer to the linked information sheet on the right hand side of this page.
How Can I Donate My Milk?
There are 3 milk banks in Canada that are members of Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and 2 of them accept donations from all over Canada! Further information about human milk donation can be found at the following link: https://www.hmbana.org/