Milk Bank

Did You Know...

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of infant death, impacting thousands of babies every year. Babies come into the world needing nourishment. When a parent's breastmilk is not available or sufficient, pasteurized donor human milk is the next best thing to prevent NEC and improve the survival of babies in need.
That's why the UC Health Milk Bank was created.

We connect those who produce an excess of milk to those who are unable. Extra milk supply donated to our organization is processed and distributed to NICUs and families in need. We have a state-of-the-art facility operated by UC San Diego and accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. With our Medical Advisory Board and world-class researchers, our Milk Bank has become the standard in newborn nutrition.

We Need You!

While California has high rates of breastfeeding, there is a large donor milk distribution problem. This has resulted in shortages for ill or premature infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies born weighing less than 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds) be given only breastmilk. We embrace the best practices in nutrition for these vulnerable babies and ensure that only the highest-calorie and highest-protein breastmilk is sent to NICUs. We proudly accepted the 2023 Top Honors Quality Leaders Award from the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and California Health Care Safety Net Institute for our equitable access to donor milk program.

The gift of milk benefits babies in several ways. The nutritive aspects of mothers’ milk help babies grow and thrive. The biology in human milk helps protect children from infections and other complications. Human milk has over 600 biological components from antibodies to hormones to small sugars that nourish bacteria in the gut. The magic of mothers’ milk!

Lisa Stellwagen, MD, FAAP Medical Director & Pediatrician

Every ounce I pumped represents so much effort, time, and LOVE - there's an immense emotional attachment to my saved breastmilk and the work I put in to build it up. As I part with my stash, I feel so much gratitude and joy knowing that it goes to babies in need! Being part of a community dedicated to helping families through the challenges of becoming a new parent is an amazing feeling.

Jennifer Breastmilk Donor

Every drop of milk I donated was important simply because I was able to. I was now a mother, and my heart grew larger not only for MY daughter but for ALL babies. I was able to experience tears of joy and tears of sadness on both sides of the hospital bed, as a patient and a lactation consultant. Knowing that I could help another family in need meant everything to me. Milk Matters!

Christina Lactation Consultant and Milk Donor

FAQs

How do I place an order for pick up?
Review the consent form and submit an inquiry form. Once completed, click here to order. Increase your order quantity to the number of bottles desired. The order minimum is 6 x 200mL (40 oz.). At checkout, select the preferred pickup date and time. Pickups are scheduled M-F, 12p-3p. Same-day orders must be submitted by 11 a.m.
How do I place an order for shipping?
We do not ship to families in San Diego proper. Review the consent form and submit an inquiry form. Once completed, click here to order. Increase your order quantity to the number of bottles desired. The order minimum is 15 x 200mL (100 oz.). The maximum is 60 bottles per box. At checkout, select "ship" and include an accurate shipping address. Milk is shipped overnight priority on dry ice. We ship Monday through Thursday. Same-day orders must be submitted by 11 a.m.
Do I need to schedule an order pickup/do I need to reschedule if I cannot make my appointment?
Yes, you must schedule an order pickup. The Milk Bank is in a secured area of the facility that customers cannot enter. If the staff does not anticipate a pickup, we cannot ensure that someone will be available to walk your order to your car. Pickups are scheduled from 12p-3p Monday through Friday. If you need to reschedule, please call or text (858) 899-4955.
How much does donor milk cost?
As a non-profit milk bank, all of our revenue is invested back into developing the milk bank and to offset expenses such as donor screening and blood testing, milk pasteurization, equipment, and facilities. UC Health Milk Bank donor milk is $4.80/ounce.
Why does donated milk cost money?
Processing donor milk requires staff, facilities, utilities, supplies, blood testing, lab testing, milk pasteurization, and lots and lots of equipment. Milk is sold to hospitals and outpatient families to cover costs. As a non-profit organization, we do not keep revenue to redistribute to shareholders or invest elsewhere. We only use revenue to progress our mission – and we have big goals to increase donor milk accessibility! See Why Does Donated Milk Cost Money?
How soon before we need donor milk should I order?
If purchasing donor milk before birth, we recommend placing your order 1-2 weeks before the baby's due date. Same-day orders must be in by 11 a.m.
Is there an order minimum?
Yes. The order minimum for local pickups is 6 x 200mL outpatient bottles (40 oz.). The order minimum for out-of-area shipments is 15 x 200mL bottles (100 oz.).
Is there an order maximum?
When inventory is low we will implement an order maximum to ensure we can service all NICUs and as many outpatient families as possible. We currently do not have an order maximum. The maximum order for shipping is 60 bottles per box.
Is there a maximum baby age you service?
To ensure we can meet the demand of NICUs, newborns, and babies with a medical necessity for donor milk, we are not able to ensure service to healthy babies over three months. If your baby is over three months old and you would like to use donor milk, you may reach out to inquire about our outpatient milk inventory.

Is donor milk safe?
Pasteurized donor milk by an HMBANA-accredited milk bank is safe. There has never been a case of a child becoming ill from donor milk pasteurized at an accredited milk bank. Donor milk must be processed at a level of quality and safety that is appropriate for NICU use. This includes extensive screening of donor mothers, pasteurization, and various quality checks.
Is donor milk frozen? How do I thaw donor milk? How long is it good for once thawed?
The donor milk is frozen and should be kept frozen until you need to use it.

A few ways to thaw donor milk when you are ready to feed are:
- Overnight in the refrigerator (12 hours)
- On the counter (takes a few hours)
- In a warm water bath (1 hour)
- In a bottle warmer (varies)
- Don't use the microwave (due to hot spots in the milk)

Once thawed, milk can:
- Stay at room temp for 4 hours
- Stay cold in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours
- Be used within 48 hours
Do you accept returns if we ordered too much donor milk, or my baby rejects the product?
For quality and safety purposes, we cannot bring donor milk back into the facility once it has been dispensed. Your baby may reject donor milk due to high lipase. Studies about high lipase milk have confirmed that it is not likely to cause any tummy troubles, but some babies are very sensitive to the free fatty acid taste. We do not have a test for lipase, so the quantity can vary. If a baby rejects milk, but the milk product is safe, we do not issue a refund.
Is a prescription required?
No. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America no longer requires a prescription for donor milk purchases.
Do you have dairy-free/diet-specific milk?
We do not create donor pools specific to diet.
What are the macronutrients of the donor milk?
Our outpatient donor milk has a similar macronutrient profile as milk produced by the mother 6 weeks post-partum. If a child was born low weight or is struggling to gain weight, we will provide a NICU-grade product at no additional cost. See the Health Milk Bank Products for macronutrient details.
Is any nutrition lost in the pasteurization process? Do I need to supplement with vitamins?
The majority of biological components are intact post-pasteurization. Heat treatment does reduce or abolish some components. Pasteurized donor milk has much of the biological and many of the beneficial properties of mother’s milk. But some minerals and vitamins like Vitamin C and Zinc can be low.

If your baby is getting donor milk from a milk bank, they may need extra nutrients by giving them a vitamin and mineral supplement. If your baby is also getting mother’s own milk or infant formula, or eating table food this supplement may not be necessary. Discuss with your provider if your baby needs a supplement and which supplement(s) they recommend.

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for infants 0-6 months old:
- Vitamin D: 400 IU/day (10 mcg)
- Vitamin C: 40 mg/day
- Zinc: 2 mg/day

Examples of infancy products that supply Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Zinc (not a complete list):
- Kiddivit Baby Zinc with elderberry, C & D
- Wellements Baby Immune Support & Vitamins
- Zarabee's Immune Support & Vitamins

Is donor milk covered by insurance? If so, what is the process?
If your baby does not have a medical need for donor milk, it is unlikely the insurance would cover it as it is a nutrition. Insurance does not cover nutrition. That being said, we always encourage families to inquire with their plan. The first step is to call in to see what your plan’s donor milk coverage/policies are.

If the insurer says they will cover the donor milk, you will need:
- A letter of medical necessity from the referring provider (your pediatrician). This should include their NPI number
- Prior authorization from your insurance. They can email it to ucmilkbankorders@health.ucsd.edu, or fax it to 858-732-0870. This should include the diagnosis code and specified quantity or length of service.
- A contact from Contracting at your insurance company so we can quickly get a single-family contract signed

If you have questions, please reach out to us at ucmilkbankorders@health.ucsd.edu.
What is considered a medical necessity for donor milk?
Examples of donor milk medical necessity include a history of surgical NEC, small gut syndrome, diagnosed failure to thrive, etc. Although formula tolerance is extremely challenging for baby and family, it is not considered a medical necessity unless the child is diagnosed with failure to thrive.
Do you have assistance programs for families with a financial need?
The Bridge Milk Fund is available for families in need of donor milk who are unable to purchase it.

Families who qualify for WIC and/or Medi-Cal can receive 40 ounces at no cost if their case meets one of the following qualifications:
- Newborn (under 1 month) - Mother's own milk is not in yet. Donor milk is needed to "bridge" until the mother's milk comes in.
- Medical necessity - Families in the process of pursuing insurance coverage for donor milk. Donor milk is needed to "bridge" until potential insurance authorization.

The fund aims to help families keep their child exclusively breastfed, if possible. Unfortunately, we cannot provide more than 40 ounces, or cases outside of "bridging". The minimum shipping order is 100 ounces. For out-of-area families who qualify, they can purchase 60 ounces and receive 40 ounces at no cost.

If you qualify for Bridge Milk, please contact us at ucmilkbankorders@health.ucsd.edu.

Contact Us

(858) 249-MILK (6455)

ucmilkbank@health.ucsd.edu

3636 Gateway Center Ave.
Suite 102
San Diego, CA 92102

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