for families who need donor milk
Your baby needs more milk than you have right now. We can help.
Whether you are bridging a short gap, waiting on your own supply, or facing a longer road, safe pasteurized donor milk is here for you. For most families it is in your hands in under 24 hours. We are here to support your family, no matter your situation.
what to know first
The same milk, held to the same standard, whether your baby is in the NICU or at home.
Under 24 hrs
Most families can access milk within a day through our Milk Express program.
30 sites
Convenient Milk Express pickup sites in the community, plus next-day shipping if there isn't one nearby.
HMBANA
Safety standards set by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, the same ones used for the most fragile babies in the NICU.
how it works
Three steps, with a real person available when you need one.
Complete the intake form
Fill out the Outpatient Intake Form online, or download and print it. You can often complete the process quickly and entirely online.
Choose pickup or shipping
After intake, choose a Milk Express pickup site or direct shipping. If your need is urgent or you need a larger quantity, the outpatient team can help.
Complete payment, or ask about help with cost
Pay securely online. If cost is a barrier, ask about our Medical Relief Fund. See what the processing fee supports and how financial assistance works.
Why is there a cost for something that was donated?
The milk itself is always a gift from lifesaving milk donors. The processing fee helps offset donor screening and blood testing, milk processing and Holder pasteurization, microbiological testing, supplies and equipment, cold storage and distribution, recordkeeping and other compliance activities. See exactly what the fee supports.
Hospitals pay a processing fee that helps offset these costs. For families receiving milk at home, cost can be a barrier. That is why the community supports our Medical Relief Fund, which provides free or reduced-cost milk for eligible families with a medical need.
who donor milk is for
A medical treatment or a bridge to reach your feeding goals.
When a parent's own milk isn't available, pasteurized donor human milk gives a baby a safe way to grow and thrive. Some families need it for a medical reason. Others use it to bridge a gap on the way to their own breastfeeding goals. Both are exactly what it is here for.
Every request is considered individually. If milk inventory ever runs short, The Milk Bank follows triage standards based on medical need, and hospitalized babies come first.
If your need is urgent, don't wait. Call 317.536.1670 and ask for the outpatient team.
is this your family?
Donor milk helps babies and families in a lot of different situations.
medical needs
Conditions that may benefit from donor milk
- Prematurity
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- GI disorders and severe formula intolerance
- Pre- and post-operative nutrition
- Kidney, heart or liver disease
- Jaundice
- Hypoglycemia
feeding goals
Bridging a gap on the way to your own goals
- Delayed or low milk supply
- Maternal illness, surgery or absence
- Medications that are not compatible with breastfeeding
- Adoption or surrogacy
- Foster or kinship care
Don't see your situation here? Call 317.536.1670 or email outpatient@themilkbank.org.
questions families ask
The things most parents want to know.
Do I need a prescription?
Generally no, and you can usually complete everything online. Prescriptions are required for the Medical Relief Fund and may be required for extended support or in times of crisis/peak demand such as during the formula shortage.
How quickly can I get milk?
Most families can access milk in under 24 hours through the Milk Express network. Orders that need shipping and come in during business hours are generally received the next day.
Where do I pick it up?
There are more than 30 Milk Express pickup sites across the community. After you complete the intake form and pay online, you'll get an emailed receipt to show staff at your chosen site. No convenient location nearby? Choose direct shipping instead and call 317.536.1670. Find a Milk Express site.
What if I can't afford the processing fee?
The Medical Relief Fund exists for exactly this. It's funded by the community so that cost doesn't stand between a family and the milk their baby needs for a medical reason. Ask the outpatient team and they'll help you through it. To request support from The Medical Relief Fund families should reside in Indiana, Kentucky or Missouri; have a medical need for donor milk; and financial barrier.
Is donor milk covered by insurance?
Sometimes. Several states, and Tricare insurance for military families, may reimburse pasteurized donor human milk in some situations.
Is donor milk safe?
Yes. Every ounce follows the strict safety standards of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), informed by guidance from the CDC, the FDA, and the blood banking. Outpatient milk goes through the very same safety process as the milk given to the most fragile NICU babies. Read our safety standards.
I'm not sure where to begin.
That is completely okay. Start the online intake form, call a specialist at 317.536.1670, or email outpatient@themilkbank.org and someone will help you figure out the right first step for your situation.
when you're ready
The first step is one short form, and you're not doing it alone.
Complete the Outpatient Intake Form to get started, or pick up the phone if that's easier. Whatever your situation, there's a real person ready to help you feed your baby.