Breast Milk Donor Program

Human milk is lifesaving for premature, ill and fragile babies. When mother’s own milk is not available, donor human milk is the next best option. Donor human milk can also help other babies with medical problems whose mothers are not yet able to provide their own milk because of illness, premature delivery, medications, or other complications.

Human milk has properties that cannot be reproduced in commercial formula. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk for the entire first year of life. And for premature babies, which is one in every 8 babies in Florida, the American Academy says “The potent benefits of human milk are such that all preterm infants should receive human milk.”

Eligible mothers within the community can now donate their excess breast milk to help premature infants in need.

Winter Haven Women’s Hospital is a milk depot for the non-profit Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida, located in Orlando. Mothers who have been screened by Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida can bring their frozen breast milk to the WHWH depot, where it is temporarily stored and then shipped on to the Milk Bank where it is pasteurized and processed.

As a milk depot, Winter Haven Women’s Hospital is making the process more convenient for mothers and removing some of the barriers in the donation process. Donation is easy and convenient and done from home. The first step is to get pre-qualified by the Mother’s Milk Bank. Donors should be in excellent health and with a baby no older that one year old.

Do you have extra breast milk?

Would you like to make a difference and promote the health of these special babies?

Go to MilkBankofFlorida.org or call (407) 248-5050 to begin the screening process.

Milk donors can call the Winter Haven Women’s Hospital Breastfeeding Helpline at (863) 294-7068 to learn more or to coordinate a time to bring in their donation.