Honouring your love and loss

We’re so sorry for the loss of your baby and we recognise the profound feelings of sadness and grief you may be experiencing at this time. We thank you for your interest in wanting to help other families despite this incredibly difficult time. 

Producing milk after a loss: what are the options for me?

Even after the loss of a baby, it is normal to produce milk. This is because of the hormonal changes that naturally occur in the body after giving birth. We recognise that for many bereaved families, the production of milk can be a shock and there can be different feelings that arise. 

There is no right or wrong way to feel about your milk at this moment – everyone experiences their milk, lactation and grief differently and you can make a choice that feels right for you. 

Some bereaved mothers choose to express and donate their breast milk in memory of their baby. Some want the lactation to stop. Others experience lactation as a connection with their baby and find it helpful to work through the grief that arises.

If you’d like to donate your breast milk, we’re here to help. We understand that this experience may be unique for every family and we can tailor our support to meet your needs. We’re ready to answer any questions you have and be here for you through the donation process. 

How does the donation process work?

1. Please start with our eligibility quiz, which will let you know if you’re able to donate your breast milk. If you prefer to speak directly with one of our team members, please call us on 1300 459 040.
2. If you have completed the quiz and are eligible, a team member will contact you shortly to discuss your options, as well as a time and date for us to meet with you and collect your donations. You don’t have to leave the hospital or your home, our team will come to you. At your appointment, we’ll work through some additional paperwork and we'll collect a small blood sample from you which is part of our testing process.
3. Your breast milk will be processed at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to meet the stringest safety requirements for the use of donated milk.
4. Once your donation has passed all the testing, we deliver your breast milk to premature babies across Australia who need support. We can let you know how much milk you’ve donated and how many hospitals have received your donations, if you wish to know. 

Whether you donate once, or on-going, we appreciate your willingness to donate and we are here to help support your breast milk donation journey. 

Who will receive my donation?

Your donation will be given to very premature babies across Australia, those who are generally less than 32 weeks of age or under 1.5kg.

The families of these babies are not charged for the milk and are incredibly grateful for your support. 

I have questions about donating

We’re here to listen and help answer any questions you may have. 

Please contact us at milkbank@redcrossblood.org.au or call us on 1300 459 040.