Quality and Safety
Is donor milk safe?
Pasteurized donor milk by a 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.
How do I thaw donor milk? How long is it good for once thawed?
The donor milk is frozen and should be stored in a freezer until you will need to use it.
Here are a Few Ways to Thaw Donor Milk When You are Ready to Feed:⠀
⠀
- 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 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 in to 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?
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America no longer requires a prescription for donor milk purchase.
Do you have dairy free / diet specific milk?
We do not create donor pools specific to diet.
What are the macronutrients of donor milk?
Our outpatient donor milk has a similar macronutrient profile as milk produced by 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
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 infant 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 and Vitamins
Ordering
How do I place an order for pick up?
1. Prior to your first order, you must submit an inquiry form and review the consent form on the New Outpatient Family Form. Once completed, completed you may go to step 2.
2. Click "Order Now"
3. Increase your order quantity to the desired number of bottles. The order minimum is 6 x 200mL bottles (40oz).
4. At checkout, select "Pick up." Enter your preferred pickup time and date and time.
Pick ups are scheduled M-F, 12-3. Same day orders must be in by 11 AM.
How do I pick up my order?
The Milk Bank is located at 3636 Gateway Center Ave, San Diego, CA. When you arrive, call or text us at (858) 899-4955. We will bring your order to the parking lot. We are located within the San Diego Blood Bank. Please do not enter the Blood Bank.
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 12-3 Monday through Friday.
If you need to reschedule, please call or text (858) 899-4955.
How do I place an order for shipping?
We do not ship to families in San Diego proper.
1. Review Ordering Criteria for Eligibility to purchase
2. Prior to your first order, you must submit an inquiry form and review the consent form on the New Outpatient Family Form.
3. Click "Order now"
4. Select Shipping for Delivery Method
5. At checkout, select "Ship." Be sure to include the accurate shipping address in your order.
6. Milk is shipped overnight priority on dry ice. We ship Monday through Thursday. The deadline for same day shipping orders is 11 AM.
Families outside of Southern California will receive an additional out-of-region shipping fee after the order is placed.
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 $5.10/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!
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 baby's due date.
Same day orders must be in by 11 AM.
Is there an order minimum?
Yes. The order minimum for local pickups is 6 x 200mL outpatient bottles (40 ounces). The order minimum for out of area shipments is 15 x 200mL bottles (100 ounces).
Is there an order maximum?
When inventory is low we will implement an order maximum to ensure we are able to service all NICUs and as many outpatient families as possible.
Please call 858-249-6455 or email getmilk@health.ucsd.edu for updates or accommodations.
Is there a maximum baby age you service?
An order criterion ensures we can meet the demand of NICUs, newborns, and babies with a medical necessity for donor milk. If inventory allows, we are able to service healthy term infants. This criterion will update regularly based on inventory.
If your baby does not meet the age for current order criteria and needs a UC Milk Bank Approved Medical Exception, a Provider Letter of Medical Necessity is required for review.
Requesting an Exception for Donor Milk – UC Health Milk Bank
Insurance
Is donor milk covered by insurance? If so, what is the process?
Insurance coverage for pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) varies widely depending on your insurance plan and state regulations. At this time, UC Health Milk Bank does not bill insurance directly or submit claims on a family’s behalf.
We recommend contacting your insurance provider before purchasing donor milk to ask about possible reimbursement and to understand their specific requirements.
How our reimbursement‑support model works:
- Families purchase donor milk directly from UC Health Milk Bank
- Families may submit a reimbursement request to their insurance provider
- Our team supports families by providing commonly requested documentation
While we cannot guarantee reimbursement or communicate directly with insurance companies, we are happy to provide documentation that insurers often request, including:
- Itemized invoices and payment receipts
- Product descriptions and milk processing information
- Billing or reference codes, when available
Because insurance policies differ, we encourage families to ask their insurance provider:
- Whether donor human milk is eligible for reimbursement
- What documentation is required
- If pre‑authorization or a letter of medical necessity is needed
If you have questions about documentation or need support during the process, our team is happy to help.
What is considered a medical necessity for donor milk?
- Very low birth weight (<1500g) or premature (<32 weeks gestation)
- Gastrointestinal anomaly, metabolic/digestive disorder, or recovery from intestinal surgery when digestive needs require additional support
- Severe formula intolerance with documented feeding difficulty/weight loss or medical contraindications to using formula
- Congenital heart disease, pre or post organ transplant
- Other serious health conditions when the use of banked donor human milk is medically necessary and supports the treatment and recovery of the infant
Will Insurance cover maternal need?
Insurance policies vary, and a small number of plans may approve donor milk for maternal reasons (such as low milk supply or breastfeeding challenges). However, UC Milk Bank follows established Prioritization Guidelines to ensure that donor milk is available first to the infants who need it most. These guidelines help us responsibly and ethically allocate a
limited resource and support medically fragile babies across our communities.
Maternal need is placed in a lower priority tier under UC Milk Bank's Prioritization Guidelines. Availability is determined by medical priority and inventory at the time of the request.
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 are able to receive 40 ounces at no cost if there is a medical necessity for donor milk.
Medical Need for Donor Milk includes:
- Very low birth weight (<1500g) or premature (<32 weeks gestation)
- Gastrointestinal anomaly, metabolic/digestive disorder, or recovery from
intestinal surgery when digestive needs require additional support - Failure to thrive
- Severe formula intolerance with documented feeding difficulty/weight loss or
medical contraindications to using formula - Congenital heart disease, pre or post organ transplant
- Other serious health conditions when the use of banked donor human milk is
medically necessary and supports the treatment and recovery of the infant
The aim of the fund is to help families keep their child exclusively breastfed, if possible. Unfortunately, we cannot provide more than one order per baby, or support cases outside of the eligibility criteria.
If you qualify for Bridge Milk, please reach out to us at getmilk@health.ucsd.edu