The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to accept, pasteurize and dispense donor human milk by physician prescription, primarily to premature and ill infants.

The Milk

Mother’s milk is a powerful prescription. Especially for infants who are preterm or sick. The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin collects, processes, and dispenses the donor milk that helps these medically fragile babies survive and thrive.

The Moms

Milk bank donors are healthy, conscientious women who care about the health of babies. They are most often nursing their own infants, have an abundant milk supply, and donate their extra milk to the Milk Bank. For this generous act they receive no payment or compensation, except the satisfaction that comes from knowing they have helped improve the health of a fragile baby.

Why it matters

• Nationally, one in eight babies is born preterm – and in Texas an uninsured woman has a 30% of giving birth early.
• Human milk is especially important for premature or sick babies, who are at 10 times the risk for devastating intestinal infections if they are fed formula instead of human milk.
• Fewer than half of moms who deliver a baby prematurely are able to provide their babies with breast milk. Through donor milk, these preterm babies are still able to receive the benefits of breast milk to help them grow and thrive.
• Some mothers of preterm and sick babies have health complications of their own or may need medications that prevent them from breastfeeding. Yet the babies of these moms are able to get many of the life-saving benefits of breastfeeding through donated human milk.
• Human milk contains antibodies to fight disease and infection, and also protects against allergies.
• Human milk contains growth hormones that help babies develop.

Want to donate milk?

1. Complete a 10-15 minute phone screening.
2. Complete and return an informational packet.
3. Have a blood test done. (We pay.)
4. When we receive your paperwork and lab results, our Clinical Director calls you with your approval status.

Ready to get started with the screening process?

Contact Kara White at kara@milkbank.org, 512.494.0800. or toll-free 1.877.813.MILK (6455).  Please tell her your name, phone number, best time to reach you, and your baby’s birth date.

Come visit us! 2911 Medical Arts St., Suite 12