Making a donation

What’s involved?

1
Getting ready to donate
2
Donating breast milk
3
Caring for your kit
4
Storing and sending your donation
1

Getting ready to donate

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Check that you can donate

Premature babies are incredibly vulnerable. We need to make sure the breast milk they’re receiving is as safe as possible. That's why not everyone can give breast milk, even though it’s still the best nutrition for your own baby. 

Take our quick eligibility quiz to check that you're able to give.

Take the eligibility quiz
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Register as a donor

After you finish the eligibility quiz, you'll be asked to provide some details to register your interest. Our team will contact you in the coming days to discuss the next steps. If you aren't ready yet or have questions - no worries. You can call us on 1300 459 040.

 

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View recipient stories

Keen to know more? While you wait, view stories about why being a milk donor is such an incredible thing.

View stories
2

Donating breast milk

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Wash your hands

You need to wash your hands well before you express milk as well as every time you handle breast pump parts. Don’t touch anything else after you’ve washed your hands, including your phone. 

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Avoid moisturisers and powders to your breast

Please avoid using moisturiser, ointment or nipple balms on or around the breast and nipple area. 

You also probably already know that clean bras and regular breast pad changes are best for your own health, but daily showers are super important for the baby receiving your milk. 

Questions? Feel free to call us on 1300 459 040

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Wash your pump as soon as possible

You can use a pump or express by hand. If you’re using a pump, follow the steps below after every use, and be sure to sterilise it every day.

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Storing your milk

Milk expressed for donation should be stored in suitable milk collection bag immediately after expressing. Please write your surname and the date you expressed and placed directly into the freezer. Please don’t store milk for donation in fridge for more than 6 hours if at all possible.

Remember, if you mix milk expressed over multiple days, we can't accept this for donation.

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Keep us informed

Drinking alcohol, taking medications whether prescribed or over-the-counter, and using supplements or vitamins can impact whether we can accept your milk. Call us on 1300 459 040 if this applies to you.

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Let us know if you’re not feeling well

Give us a call and we’ll be able to let you know what to do. Depending on what you have, you may need to take a short break.

3

Caring for your kit

Sterilise your kit daily

You can boil or steam sterilise your kit. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid dishwashers and chemical decontamination methods (like Milton). Those chemicals could be dangerous for the babies we’re helping. 

If you sterilise using steam, just follow the manufacturer’s instructions. We recommend boiling your kit. Boiling is consistent and reliable if you follow these steps: 

  • Follow the steps above for cleaning your kit first
  • Place the kit in a large saucepan on the stove
  • Cover kit with water, checking for trapped air
  • Bring the water to the boil and boil for 5 minutes (be careful not to let it boil dry)
  • Take the kit off the heat and allow the kit to cool in the saucepan
  • When you can, take the kit out but don’t touch the inside of the containers. If it helps, you can use some sterilised long handled tongs
  • Shake off any excess water
  • Store the kit in a clean closed container in the fridge
  • Avoid touching the inside of containers and let them air dry on clean paper towel. 

 

 

Hand wash your pump parts
  • As soon as possible, separate all the parts (the tubing won’t need washing).
  • Rinse all parts that came into contact with your breast milk, including the small flange, with cold water first (but avoid contact with the sink)
  • Wash everything in a clean container with hot, soapy water and a clean bottle brush
  • Rinse the soap off with clean, hot water
  • Shake off any excess water
  • Air dry on clean paper towel, with bottles upside down to drain
  • Wash container with clean, hot, soapy water, then air dry on clean paper towel
  • When everything’s dry, put the kit back in the container (with the lid on), and put it all in the fridge until you need it again.
4

Storing and sending your donation

Storing the milk

Pour the milk into the sterile bags provided (just make sure you don’t put your fingers inside the bag). We can only accept donations in approved sterile containers, which means no glass or zip lock sandwich bags. 

Allow at least 2cm at the top of the bag — milk expands when it freezes. Label every bag or container with your surname and the date. We won’t be able to take a donation that’s already more than three months old. 

Pop it in the freezer immediately. Your milk can be frozen for up to ten weeks. If you can, keep the milk bags inside a hard plastic container so they don’t get damaged.  

A couple of things to remember
  • Use a new bag for every session. We don’t recommend topping up bags.
  • Please don't mix milk expressed over multiple days, we won't be able to accept these donations.
  • Don’t refreeze your breast milk if it thaws. If you don’t need it for your own baby, throw it away.
  • If you experience a power outage, leave your freezer door closed. When power returns, check your bags to ensure they are all still hard frozen. If any are soft/slushy/thawed or liquid, we can't accept these for donation.
  • You can request a collection from our team when you have 3L or more. Just give us a call on 1300 459 040.
  • Find out what else we do for safety.

Thanks for being so generous, and so careful with your donation. Your kind donations will support families during an incredibly difficult time.  

 

Ready to take the next step?

Check your eligibility