Milk banks offer a valuable service for mothers who can not produce breast milk for their babies and those who produce too much breast milk. Women with premature babies, illnesses, who have adopted their children, or who can not breastfeed for a variety of reasons can get breast milk to feed their children. Also, mothers who produce too much milk, can donate it, knowing it is going to mothers like themselves, not being thrown away. Mothers accepting the milk can rest assured that each of the donors have been extensively screened and are healthy.
Milk banks collect frozen breast milk from pre-screened healthy lactating mothers. The milk is pasteurized (and in some cases nutrients are added) and each ounce is nutritionally labeled so parents and care providers know exactly what each infant is being fed.
The milk is either sold back to mothers in the community or sent to hospitals across the nation for use in the neo-natal ICU's. Breast milk is fed to infants to help them grow faster and become healthier.
If you are a lactating woman or a woman who would like to get breast milk for your baby you may visit the two websites below to see which milk bank is right for you.
www.milkbanking.net
www.hmbana.org