Milk bank

Many babies will benefit from the generosity of breastfeeding mothers who do not receive any payment for their milk donations. Human milk banking is a service which collects, screens, processes and dispenses human milk donated by nursing mothers. Because the milk is dispensed to recipients, who are not related to the donor, every precaution is taken to provide a safe product.

• Donor mothers undergo health and lifestyle screening, also blood tests for HIV, Hep B&C, Syphilis and HTLV
• Milk is expressed hygienically in the donor’s home, frozen and collected regularly by milkbank staff
• Milk is defrosted, pooled and bottled using tamperproof lids. NO mixed pooling between mothers
• Milk is tested. Bottles with bacteria above recommended safe levels are discarded
• Milk is heat treated to 62.5oC for 30 mins to ensure a completely safe product
• Following pasteurisation, milk is refrozen (shelf life 3 months) Trackback labels ensure all milk can be traced and recorded

NICE website
The advice in the NICE guideline covers how milk banks should recruit, screen and support women who donate breast milk. You can visit the website in Related Links to left of this page.

The Milk Bank allows Mothers who have more milk than their babies require, to donate their excess for use by other babies. 

Mothers donating their milk are screened for life habits, risk factors eg hepatitis, HIV etc. Any mothers with these risk factors are advised that they are unable to donate their milk and offered appropriate support from relevant health professionals.

Milk that is considered best for early babies is milk from mothers were their baby is young, as milk constituents change over time, an older baby's milk is more suitable for older babies…this is to try and match up with nature ie. A Mother's milk changes as baby grows.

Mothers who donate their milk are not paid for their milk but do receive a certificate of thanks with a small donated gift pack.

The milk bank relies on new mothers coming forward to offer donations of breastmilk.

They recruit donor mothers from Wirral, Liverpool and all parts of the North West region as far north as Blackpool.

Mothers can contact the milk bank directly to enquire about donating milk.

Adopt a lamb to help premature babies

Your cash donation will help us to purchase breast pumps for donor mothers. 

The Milk Bank can provide money collection boxes and a box of lambs to anyone wishing to collect on behalf of the Milk Bank. If you are interested please contact us on  01244 511440 or email: northwest.milkbank@nhs.net.

Contact

North West Human Milk Bank,
North West Food Research Development Centre,
University of Chester,
Parkgate Road,
Chester CH1 4BJ

Telephone: 01244 511440

Email: northwest.milkbank@nhs.net

Website: www.northwesthmb.org.uk   

Our Advisor are trained to provide breastfeeding advice to mothers as well as answer questions on all aspects of milk banking. They regularly attend meetings with other UK milk bank staff to share best practice.

• Pasteurising sessions are staffed by health care assistance from NNU.
• All milk bank staff have received level 2 award in food hygiene.
• Strong links exist with Microbiology department and Infection Control team.
• The milk bank also consults regularly with Wirral Medicines Service on pharmalogical issues relating to milk donation.

Milk Bank Volunteers

There are currently 7 volunteers who assist with milk bank work which includes collection of donor milk locally and from donors across the North West region. Two volunteers help with administration and office work in the milk bank.If you are
interested in voluntary work in the milk bank, please contact:

North West Human Milk Bank,
North West Food Research Development Centre,
University of Chester,
Parkgate Road,
Chester CH1 4BJ

Telephone: 01244 511440

Email: northwest.milkbank@nhs.net 

Website: www.northwesthmb.org.uk