Donating Breastmilk
We have created this page as we work with Hearts Milk Bank and support them to find more milk donors across Norfolk and North Suffolk. We have permission from themselves to use the wording directly from their website.
For families within our area, you can donate your excess breastmilk to Hearts Milk Bank. To talk to them about donating breastmilk email info@heartsmilkbank.org or call 01442 505 020 / 01442 505 021.
Please consider donating breastmilk as it is crucial in supporting some of the most vulnerable babies to have breastmilk at a time where their families may be struggling or unable to produce milk. Head to Milk donors | The Hearts Milk Bank - Human Milk Foundation
Steps to becoming a milk donor
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Health Questionnaire
You will need to complete a questionnaire and consent form, which can be done after contacting the team at Hearts (email here). We can also post out or email forms and information to you if you prefer. The questionnaire includes questions about any recent overseas travel and about your medical history, as well as your baby’s health and how you are expressing milk. Please contact the milk bank by phone (01442 505 020 / 01442 505 021 between 9.30 am and 5:00 pm) or by email (info@heartsmilkbank.org), if you would like us to guide you through the process.
Blood Tests
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Once we have checked through your forms, we will post out a kit that contains everything you will need for blood tests to be taken. These can be arranged at your GP or local phlebotomy centre, wherever you usually access blood tests. We are required by national guidelines to test all donors for HIV1 and 2, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV). These are all infections that we can have without knowing and which may get into breastmilk. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to read more about these infectious diseases.
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Results
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The blood results take about 7- 10 working days to come back from our partner NHS laboratory. Once we have your results, we will send you instructions on how to arrange your first collection.
Milk ID
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Every container (bag or bottle) of milk for donation will need to be labelled with your name or unique Hearts Milk Bank donor ID number, the date it was expressed and details of any medications taken within the previous 24 hours.
If anything changes, you need to take a new medication or move house, or would like to stop donating, please get in touch with the Hearts team.
All of our processes are in line with the NICE Clinical Guideline #93 for the Operation of a Human Milk Bank. If you have any questions about the process of becoming a milk donor, please call us on 01442 505 020 / 01442 505 021 between 9.30am - 5.00pm.
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Please consider milk donation - it is vital for many babies and families. Several of the LWBS have been milk donors during their breastfeeding journey and would love to see more families receive more milk as well as more families donating.
Head to Hearts Milk Bank Website by clicking here