Frequently Asked Questions From Donors

  • Bloom hosts a community based milk-sharing organization facilitated by Dr. Hughes. She seeks to make milk sharing safer through screening guidelines similar to those used by the Human Milk Bank Association of North America (HMBANA) as opposed to blind donation/recipients that are often facilitated through social media. Dr. Hughes reviews donor health histories using a Donor History form and orders blood for lab tests to screen for diseases that can be passed through human milk. Unlike HMBANA milk banks, Dr. Hughes does not thaw, pool, pasteurize, and test donor milk. She does provide instructions for an easy, evidence-based flash-heat pasteurization at home.

    Dr. Hughes acknowledges the importance of donor milk from HMBANA milk banks. This pasteurized and tested donor milk is available by physician prescription and is an invaluable source of nutrition for babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Dr. Hughes supports families’ choices regarding milk donation and receipt.

  • There is no minimum amount of milk required to become a donor. We gratefully accept any amount of breastmilk. A parent who commits to maintaining their health and pumping their milk is donating a precious and priceless gift, as well as a lot of time and work!

  • As part of the donation screening process, we ask that each donor have blood drawn for HTLV 1&2, HIV 1&2, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis (RPR). This is an essential part of informed milk sharing. Labs can be obtained through your physician or through Dr. Hughes. Insurance is billed for labs. If labs from pregnancy (HIV, Hep B, RPR) have been drawn within the last year, those can be submitted in place of new labs.

  • The short answer is yes, usually. Alcohol clears breastmilk at the same rate as it clears the bloodstream. We ask that parents refrain from collecting milk for donation for 12 hours after drinking alcohol. If this does not happen, please mark the milk so we can inform the recipients.

  • Most medications are compatible with human milk. Please disclose any over-the-counter or prescribed medications, herbs and supplements. Dr. Hughes works on an informed choice model and will inform recipients if milk may contain medications and the "level of risk" each one has. A recipient has the right to “pass” on any milk offered them.

  • We appreciate receiving frozen donor milk as soon as it becomes convenient. The fresher your milk, the higher its nutritive value. We accept milk that has been safely handled and stored in a refrigerator freezer up to 6 months and in a deep freezer up to 12 months. Please review our Milk Handling Guidelines.

  • Dr. Hughes typically can respond quickly and arrange transfer of milk in a timely manner. Donor milk will be held for distribution until lab screening is completed.

Frequently Asked Questions From Recipients

  • Milk is available at $0.75 per ounce.

  • Dr. Hughes provides this service entirely on her own. The fee helps cover lab costs for uninsured donors and copays for those who have one, reviewing labs and medication of donors, providing safety information to recipients about the milk, storage equipment and monitoring, malpractice and liability insurance, and time coordinating delivery and pickup.

  • Donor milk is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to the youngest or sickest children. In general, Dr. Hughes reserves donor milk for babies 6 months and younger. Exceptions have been made to this policy based on family circumstance, health status of the child receiving milk, and Bloom's milk supply. Each request is individually addressed by Dr. Hughes. If a family has long-term needs, Dr. Hughes most likely will not be able to provide 100% of a child’s nutritional needs. Bloom's supply and demand vary greatly.

  • Currently, Bloom does not have the resources to provide babies with 100% of their nutritional needs. Our goal is to provide a bridge of time and milk while families troubleshoot breastfeeding challenges or augment resources to meet their needs. Dr. Hughes is available for consultation if needed.

  • Donor milk is not restricted to Kansas City. It again is based on a first-come, first-served basis. You are required to pick up in person, however.

  • Please refer to the chart on our Milk Handling Guidelines for average intake per feed (with expectation of a minimum of 8 feeds per day). Remember, these are just averages, and a baby's whole picture will be the best guide. For those who are breastfeeding, we strongly encourage working with a lactation consultant to help determine appropriate weight gain and work toward resolution of supply issues. Dr. Hughes is available as a consultant if needed.

  • With rare exceptions, Bloom's policy is to provide donor milk after birth only. This policy is in place to prevent compromising a parent’s confidence in establishing their own milk supply and to promote quality lactation support. Dr. Hughes does encourage and can help identify lactation-promotimg practices and resources before birth with her prenatal lactation consultation. Dr. Hughes does welcome you or a family member to reach out at the first sign of an evidenced need for supplementation, whether in the hospital or at home.

  • The composition of colostrum and human milk changes from day-to-day and feeding-to-feeding. Normal human milk can appear thin and blue or thick and yellow. There is also natural variation in color due to maternal diet. Diets rich in leafy greens, for example, can cast a greenish hue to milk. Beta carotene-rich foods can cause milk to appear orange, and certain vitamin supplementation can cause it to appear green-yellow.

  • Some mothers produce milk with a higher amount of lipase, a naturally occurring enzyme present in all milk that helps break down fats into free fatty acids. It is unknown why some mothers produce more lipase, but this milk is not considered harmful. It is only an issue when milk is exposed to the air through pumping and handling. High lipase milk can smell soapy or sour when thawed. Most babies do not mind the taste. You can try adding 1-2 drops of non-alcoholic vanilla to the bottle to help mask the taste if desired.

  • Yes. Dr. Hughes utilizes The Infant Risk Center database of over 20,000 drugs, supplements, and prescriptions. Drs. Thomas Hale and Kaytlin Krutsch have performed extensive research on the effects of medications in mother’s milk. They have given each medication a rating from Safest (L1) to Hazardous (L5). The Lactation Risk Categories are explained below:

    • L1 Safest: Extensive evidence demonstrating no adverse effects on the infant

    • L2 Safer: Limited evidence without an increase in adverse effects on the infant

    • L3 Probably Safe: No studies, but expert opinion suggesting safety. Risk to the infant is possible, and further evaluation must be taken to consider individual situations.

    • L4 Possibly Hazardous: Positive evidence or expert opinion of risk to the infant or milk production.

    • L5 Hazardous: Significant and documented risk to the infant. Contraindicated