Donating breast milk – What you need to know
Donating breast milk
Breast milk is the ideal food for babies. It gives them all the nourishment they need in their first 6 months
and has important benefits for their health and development, both immediately and as they grow. Breast
milk is particularly important for premature and ill babies, but sometimes mothers of these babies
are unable to provide breast milk. In this situation, the baby may be given breast milk that has been
donated by another breastfeeding mother and stored in a breast milk bank.
Can I donate my breast milk?
If you think you could be a suitable donor, staff at the milk bank will be happy to answer any questions
you may have. There is a screening process which all potential donors need to go through before
donating milk. We cannot accept milk from women who:
 smoke, are regularly exposed to passive smoke or who are using nicotine replacement therapy
 regularly drink more than 1 to 2 units of alcohol once or twice per week
What is the screening process?
You will be asked to sign a consent form and complete a questionnaire about your medical history and
your general health and lifestyle. We do not normally need to access your medical records but will ask for
your consent before doing so if required.
Whether you can donate depends on the answers to these questions and the results of your blood tests
so please answer accurately. Answering yes does not mean you cannot be a donor but further
information may be required.
If you are donating milk you have already expressed, you should answer the screening questions for the
period when you expressed the milk. We also ask for a blood sample for testing as we cannot use the
results completed before the birth of your baby. Your blood will be tested for: HIV, Hepatitis B and C,
HTLV 1 and 2 and Syphilis
HIV (the Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus which causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome). AIDS is the name of a collection of diseases which develop because the body’s immune
system breaks down. Hepatitis B and C are viruses which affect liver cells and can cause inflammation
of the liver.
HTLV 1 and 2 (Human T-cell Leukaemia Viruses types 1 and 2) are rare in Britain and are most common
in Southern Japan, the Caribbean, parts of Africa, South America and South Eastern Europe. Many
people who have these viruses have no symptoms although they will be infectious. Syphilis is a sexually
transmitted bacterial infection.
Occasionally, with the automated screening that we use, we get false alarms (known as reactions).
Please be assured these have no bearing on your health and it is perfectly fine for you to continue to
breast feed. We cannot stop these false reactions but when they do occur we have a set of procedures.
We do further, more detailed testing and if these are negative we can be confident that the reactions are
false and due to technical problems. You can get further information at Blood_Test_leaflet. However
because of regulations we cannot accept your breast milk. Usually after a few months, if the blood tests
are repeated the reaction disappears and you would be able to donate in the future.
If your blood gives a confirmed positive result for any of these infections you will be asked to attend for
further tests and advice on any issues which may affect your own health. A positive test means that your
donation will not be used and you would not be able to donate milk in future.
How long can I donate for?
It is a good idea to establish breast feeding before you begin to express for the milk bank. It is best to try
to set up a regular routine for expressing as this will help with your supply. Try not to express more than
once or twice a day. Your baby must be under 6 months when FIRST donating and we accept milk
up to your baby is 9 months old.
One off donations of previously expressed milk are acceptable if the milk has been stored and frozen
appropriately, is less than 90 days old and is 3 litres or more.
You should also contact the milk bank staff to discuss temporarily stopping your donations if you:
 develop a temperature or have been exposed to a virus that causes a rash such as chicken pox or
German measles (rubella)
 start taking medication
 develop breast lesions or infections such as mastitis
 travel outside the UK
What happens to donated milk?
Before donated milk is used, it is tested to see if it has been contaminated with micro-organisms (such as
bacteria). Although some milk will not be suitable for this reason, this will not harm your own baby. Milk is
pasteurised to help destroy unwanted or disease causing organisms. From the time the milk is collected
from you until it is given to a baby, records will be kept on who the milk came from, how the milk has
been stored, any tests or treatments that the milk has had and how it has been used. All records kept are
treated as confidential.
Data Protection
The Donor Milk Bank keeps a record of donor information and details on a secure computerised
database. This database is used by the bank to communicate with donors and to record their donation
details, including all blood sample test results. It is also used for the proper and necessary administration
of the bank.
All the information held is treated with the strictest confidence. Families whose babies receive donor milk
will not be able to access the donors’ personal information at any point. This information may also be
used for research in order to improve our knowledge about the milk donor population, and for clinical
audit, to assess and improve the quality of our service. From time to time we may contact you for
feedback on the service we provide.
On occasion we may use some of the information you give us for other reasons and sometimes the law
requires us to pass on information if there is a genuine need (for instance in matters of Public Health).
Whenever we can we will remove details which will identify you. All information and data that is
processed by the Milk Bank is in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act (1998).
Everyone has a legal duty to keep all information confidential, and everyone who receives information
from us is also legally obliged to keep it confidential. You have a right of access to your donor records. If
you want to access your records, contact our Donor Coordinator.
Collecting Milk for Donation
- Milk should be expressed by hand or by breast pump. ‘Drip milk’ (milk that leaks from one breast
while you are feeding your baby from the other breast) is not accepted. Please throw away the first
few drops of each collection (about a teaspoonful) because there may be more bacteria in the first
milk expressed on each occasion
-
Equipment for expressing does not need to be sterilised. However good personnel hygiene, hand
washing, clean preparation areas, fridges and freezers are essential. Expressing equipment should
be washed in hot soapy water making sure it is clear of all milk debris, rinsed in cool water,
thoroughly dried and stored in a container lined with paper towel and covered with a lid between
uses.
-
The milk bank will provide sterilised collection bottles and staff will advise you how to label your milk.
When collecting milk be careful not to touch the inside of the bottle or lid. Leave a 2cm gap at the top
of the bottle as the milk will expand when frozen.
-
Where practical you should freeze your milk as soon as possible after expressing it. If this is not
possible, you can keep it in the fridge but it should be frozen within 24 hours of expressing it at the
latest. It does not matter if there is only a small amount of milk in a bottle at the end of each day these
can then be topped up with chilled freshly pumped milk.
-
All milk stored at home should remain frozen. We will also ask you to record the temperature of your
freezer every day (preferably in the morning). We will provide you with a thermometer for this if your
freezer does not have one.
Donor Breast Milk Collection Service
ScotsERVS (Emergency Rider Volunteer Service) are supporting the NHS GGC Donor Milk
Bank by assisting with the collection and delivery of donor breast milk across Scotland.
As a breast milk donor we want to make milk collection as easy and convenient as possible.
Our volunteers collect milk on a regular basis. In Highland, Grampian and other more difficult
to reach areas this may be at a central collection point on pre arranged dates. If you do become
a donor we will discuss this with you and advise you of where and when this will be.
For all other areas ScotsERVS will collect your milk within two weeks of the request being
submitted and will advise you of when they are going to call.
Please remember milk must be processed within 90 days of the oldest milk so give us plenty of
time to arrange collection (around 6 weeks of the date of the oldest milk).
If you need more bottles or labels prior to collection these can be posted out.
Our volunteers all wear ScotsERVS uniform with logo and carry personalised identification
cards. Our volunteers have a doorstop policy: they will not enter your home.
When collecting milk from you they will provide you with a cool box to store your milk during
transportation which is then sealed.
To arrange collection contact Scotservs direct on 07017043999 – there may be additional
costs when calling this number – if you prefer, the milk bank can pass on collection
requests to Scotservs. Please also let the Milk Bank know when you have asked for a
collection and to order extra bottles, labels or freezer sheet.
If you want to know the name of the volunteer who will be collecting your milk, then call the Duty
Officer on 07017043999 and they will be able to provide you with that information. If you need to
cancel or change the arranged collection, then please inform the Duty Officer as soon as
possible.
ScotsERVS are a Charity Registered in Scotland SC042704
If you wish to donate then please complete the Consent Form and Health and Lifestyle
Questionnaire and return by email or post.
Breast Milk Donor Consent Record
GGCMBF05 (V0.2)
CHI:
(for coordinator use only)
Donor Label:
Sample label:
Name
Date of Birth
Address
Mobile
Number
Telephone Number
GP, name and address
Date of birth of own
baby
Gestation of baby at
birth
Email address
I have read and understood the milk donation leaflet and given my consent to proceed;

I donate my breast milk in support of the care of babies and consent for it to be processed and
stored. I understand that once donated the milk cannot be returned to me.

If the milk is found to be unsuitable for clinical use I consent that it may be disposed of or used for
anonomysed nutritional research.

I consent to a sample of my blood being typed and tested for the presence of infectious agents and a
small sample stored for possible future testing.

In the event of a possible positive test result, I give my consent for the result to be passed on to my
GP or other appropriate medical professional.

I consent for staff to review my medical notes and contacting my GP if necessary.

I give consent for information about me, my health and my donations to be stored on a database.
Donor signature:…………………………………………..……….. Date:…………/……………/………..
Name of Professional
completing lifestyle
questionnaire, discussing
the process, taking blood
and consenting donor.
Name:…………………………………………..
Signature:……………………………………..
Date:…………/…………/…………
Return consent and questionnaire to: Donor Milk Bank, Southern General Hospital,
Maternity Unit, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 4TF
Donor Health and Lifestyle Check
The milk bank will need to know that you are in generally good health and most will ask that your
baby is under 6 months of age when you start donating.
If you are donating milk already expressed, you should answer for the period when you were
expressing.
Confidentiality
Any information which milk banks hold about donors is kept in strict confidence.
Yes
No
Comments
Yes
No
Comments
Do you have any medical conditions
Do you routinely take any medicines
including herbal remedies
Do you smoke?
Are you exposed to passive smoking?
Are you using nicotine replacement
therapy?
Are you using recreational drugs?
Do you routinely drink more than 1 or 2
units of alcohol once or twice a week?
Do you routinely drink more than 3 cups
of caffeinated coffee or other caffeinecontaining drinks per day?
Have you had a blood transfusion in the
last 3 months?
What if I have taken any medications?
Breastmilk is only suitable for donation to the milk bank if you have taken no medications or
herbal remedies in the 48 hours before you expressed. If you wish to express anyway and
keep the milk for your own baby, it is important that you label the milk accordingly. Please
inform the milk bank if you have any vaccinations.
Answering yes to these questions does not mean that you cannot be a donor, but the milk
bank staff may want to talk further to you.
What if I am ill?
Please let the milk bank know if you are unwell. Most minor illnesses will not affect your milk.
However, if you are feeling unwell you may want to stop donating for a while.
Yes
No
Comments
Yes
No
Comments
Are you HIV positive or do you think you
may be HIV positive?
Have you ever had hepatitis B or hepatitis
C or do you think you may have hepatitis
now?
Have you ever injected or been injected
with illegal or non-prescribed drugs,
including bodybuilding drugs? (You must
answer 'Yes' even if it was only once or a
long time ago.)
Have you ever been given money or drugs
for sex?
Please answer each question. Have you
had sex in the last 12 months with:
anyone who is HIV positive?
anyone who has hepatitis B or C?
anyone who has ever been given money
or drugs for sex?
anyone who has ever injected drugs?
anyone who may ever have had sex in
parts of the world where AIDS/HIV is very
common (this includes most countries in
Africa)?
In the last 12 months have you had sex
with a man who has ever had oral or anal
sex with another man, with or without a
condom or other form of protection?
Have you been told you should never give
blood?
In the last 12 months, have you had an
injury which could have put you at risk of
hepatitis or HIV (could the virus have
entered your body through a needle prick
or broken skin)?
In the last 12 months, have you had your
ears pierced, any piercing to your face or
body, had a tattoo or cosmetic treatment
that involved piercing your skin?
Have you ever had a serious illness or
seen a doctor about your heart?
Have you ever had an operation, any
hospital investigations or tests?
Have you ever had jaundice or hepatitis?
Are you taking any medicine, tablets or
other treatment prescribed by your
doctor?
Have you taken any other medicines or
tablets in the last 7 days (this includes any
you have bought)?
Have you seen a doctor, dentist or any
other healthcare professional in the last 7
days or are you waiting to see one (except
routine appointments with your doctor)?
Have you had an illness, infection or fever
in the last 2 weeks or do you think you
have one now?
Have you been in contact with anyone
with an infectious disease in the last 4
weeks?
Have you had any immunisations,
vaccinations or jabs in the last 8 weeks?
Have you ever been advised by a
healthcare professional that you are at an
increased risk of CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease)?
Have you or your partner been outside
the UK (including business) in the last 28
days?
If you have answered yes can you please
name the country or countries you or your
partner have visited
Do you have milk stored?
Is it less than 90 days?
What is the date of the earliest milk?
Approximately how much milk do you
have stored?