A sample of some frequently asked questions we receive:

How do I store the milk?

When you have finished expressing, pour the milk carefully into the storage bottles. Do not touch the inside of the cap or the bottles. Always leave a 2cm gap at the top of each bottle as the milk will expand when frozen. Replace the cap securely and label the bottle with your Surname or milk bank ID number and date.

You can freeze the milk immediately after expressing. If you wish to add to the bottle throughout the day, you can store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before freezing it. Bottles with some frozen milk in them can be topped up later and the date added to the label.

Bottles stored in the fridge or freezer should be kept away from other food by storing them in a sealed bag or plastic container.

What if I have taken any medications?

Breastmilk is usually only suitable for donation to the milk bank if you have taken no medications or herbal remedies (other than those allowed and discussed with the milk bank staff)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. Breastmilk for the milk bank must always be labelled with any medications taken. Please inform the milk bank if you have any vaccinations as you may need to stop donating for a period of time.

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.

My baby is 6 months old. Can I still become a donor?

Most milk banks prefer to recruit donors before their baby is 6 months old and some have even younger cut off times. This is because the breastmilk from a mother with a younger baby is more suitable for premature babies especially if they are receiving donor breastmilk for more than a few days. Premature babies have very high nutritional needs and these seem to be better met by the earlier breastmilk. Milkbanks also often find that mothers who start donating around the time their baby is beginning to take weaning foods (and so reducing the frequency of breastfeeding) donate for a shorter period of time. This is because their milk supply starts to become less abundant and expressing milk can become more time consuming. With limited budgets, milk banks therefore prefer to recruit mothers with younger babies - the milk is more suitable for premature infants and the investment in recruiting a donor usually results in more milk being donated. If you would like to become a donor and your baby is already around the 5 to 6 months age mark, the milk bank may ask you to undertake a trial period to ensure that you will be able to successfully express enough milk. Once donated, all breastmilk is highly valued and our motto of 'Every Drop Counts' remains true for all the donor milk.

Are donors able to meet the babies who are receiving the milk?

Generally individual donors do not meet the babies who receive the milk, or their families. This is part of the confidentiality policy. However, milk banks try to keep donors up to date with what happens to their milk, where it goes and other information about milk banking.

Further, detailed information about expressing milk is available from milk banks.