For families who are experiencing low milk production, or who are unable to provide their own milk to their infants for other reasons, pasteurized donor human milk is available as a supplement. The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides pasteurized donor human milk to infants who are hospitalized at CHOP Philadelphia or King of Prussia campuses. 

The Mothers’ Milk Bank was developed in cooperation with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), a professional organization that sets the standards and guidelines for nonprofit donor milk banking in North America.

Located within the Main Hospital at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Mothers’ Milk Bank process and pasteurize donated human milk on-site. 

Since 2006, the Hospital has supplied pasteurized donor human milk for hospitalized infants. 

How donor human milk can help sick infants

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization both recommend human milk as the sole form of nutrition for all infants during the first 6 months of life. Human milk is especially important for vulnerable, at-risk infants, for optimal health and developmental outcomes.

Human milk:

• Strengthens an infant’s immune system to help fight disease and infection (including necrotizing enterocolitis)
• Contains growth hormones to develop infants' intestinal systems
• Is easier to digest than formula
• Offers infants better neurodevelopmental outcomes

Pasteurized donor human milk can be used to help infants with a variety of conditions, including prematurity, allergies, feeding intolerance, immunologic deficiencies, post-operative nutrition, treatment of some infectious diseases, and treatment of certain inborn errors of metabolism.

How to donate human milk to the Mothers' Milk Bank

In order to become a HMBANA donor, eligible donors must meet strict donor criteria to ensure they are healthy and that their milk is safe. Potential donors must first complete a verbal screening. This can be done in person or via telephone. Next, potential donors complete a medical history and lifestyle questionnaire and obtain the approval of their healthcare provider. They will also have a blood test to screen for diseases, including HIV, HTLV 1 and 2, hepatitis B and C and syphilis.

After screening, approval, and blood testing, the donated human milk is heat-treated using the Holder pasteurization method, to ensure safety while preserving its nutritional and immunological benefits.

Contact us

If you are interested in becoming a milk donor or have questions about the Mothers’ Milk Bank, call us at 267-425-1662 or email us.