Every year, during World Breastfeeding Week, we celebrate how breastmilk nourishes babies and protects their health. But there’s one part of that story that often remains in the background: donor milk.
For premature or seriously ill infants, especially those in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), receiving human milk can make the difference between life and death. When a baby’s mother cannot breastfeed due to illness, stress, or complications after birth, donated milk is the next best option. Compared to formula, it significantly reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, supports immune development, and improves long-term outcomes in fragile newborns (Shrestha et al., 2025; Mathias et al., 2023; Hoban et al., 2019).
And the need is real: in Europe alone, around 500,000 babies are born preterm each year (WHO, 2023). Many of them will require donor milk in their first days or weeks of life. Human milk banks play a crucial role in meeting this demand, but often operate with limited supply. In Catalonia, for instance, the milk bank supplied 1,416 liters of breast milk in 2024, to 655 babies, using donations from fewer than 800 donors (Banc de Sang i Teixits, 2025).
I began donating when I had my first child. It had been a complicated pregnancy, and I was scared for many months. I just wanted him to be okay. And when he finally was safe and healthy in my arms, I felt not only relief, but a deep sense of gratitude. That’s when I thought of the families who don’t get to live that moment in peace. For them, the first days with their baby mean worry, tubes, and hope hanging by a thread.
And I wanted to help, so I looked up the milk bank. Donating was simple. The milk bank provided a breast pump, sterile bottles for freezing the milk, and clear instructions. I also took a quick blood test and medical screening to ensure everything was fine. There’s no minimum quantity, and contrary to what many believe, you don’t need to have “extra milk”, since production adapts to demand, and every drop counts.
But the most powerful part? Every time my milk is fed to a baby, I receive a short SMS:
“Elisabeth, you now belong to our big family. Today, your milk will help a premature baby at the Hospital.” That message makes me feel as if I were sending a virtual hug. Somewhere, a family facing fear is now a little more supported. It’s a way of showing up for someone I’ll never meet, and helping how I can.
Breastmilk donation doesn’t ask much. A bit of time, a bit of care. But it gives families something priceless: nourishment, protection, and a reminder that even in the hardest beginnings, there’s solidarity.
Thinking of Donating Milk? Here’s What You Should Know
The following instructions are based on the guidelines from the Breastmilk Bank of Catalonia. For other regions, check your local human milk bank or hospital:
- Who can donate? Healthy breastfeeding mothers who do not smoke or take contraindicated medications. A blood test and health screening are required.
- What’s the process? You’ll receive a breast pump and sterile containers from the milk bank. You can freeze your milk at home and arrange a pickup for processing.
- Where does the milk go? To neonatal units across hospitals, where it helps feed premature or medically vulnerable babies.
- Is there a minimum amount? No, any amount is welcome. Milk production increases with extraction, and every donation is valuable.
References
- Shrestha, A., Gulrajani, N., Ginsburg, A. S., Laleau, V., Gade, S., Flaherman, V., … & Dongol, S. (2025). Perceptions and experiences related to use of breastmilk from another mother in central Nepal: a qualitative study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 20(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00706-8
- Mathias, E. G., Patil, D. S., Kolakemar, A., Krishnan, J. B., Renjith, V., Gudi, N., … & Brand, A. (2023). Barriers and facilitators for the donation and acceptance of human breast milk: a scoping review. Current nutrition reports, 12(4), 617-634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-023-00506-8
- Hoban, R., Schoeny, M. E., Esquerra-Zwiers, A., Kaenkumchorn, T. K., Casini, G., Tobin, G., … & Patel, A. L. (2019). Impact of donor milk on short-and long-term growth of very low birth weight infants. Nutrients, 11(2), 241. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11020241
- WHO. (2023). Born Too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240073890
- Banc de Sang i Teixits. (2025, May 7). El Banc de Llet Busca Aconseguir Més donants en el Dia Mundial de la donació de llet materna. https://www.bancsang.net/ca/noticies/8590/el-banc-de-llet-busca-aconseguir-mes-donants-en-el-dia-mundial-de-la-donacio-de-llet-materna
PhD in Sociology