The Mothers Milk Cooperative and Medolac: A Partnership for Change
Mother's Milk Cooperative (MMC) is the one and ONLY cooperative milk bank. Like all cooperatives, we are motivated not by profit, but by service to meet our members’ needs. For us, that means helping moms and babies by providing affordable and high quality donor milk. The Mother's Milk Cooperative is a different sort of milk bank. We are the one and only milk bank owned and controlled by our milk donors. We became a cooperative because we believe that mothers should shape the future of milk banking. We also have the first paid milk donation program in the United States, allowing moms to stay home a bit longer with their babies, support the added expenses of a growing family, or even save for a family vacation.
Q. Where does the breast milk come from?
A. The Mothers Milk Cooperative works with nursing women across the United States. MMC donors tend to be between the ages of 23-35 with the majority of women being in their late twenties. MMC donors come from all walks of life, ranging from attorneys and nurses, human resource professionals, teachers, and stay at home moms. We also serve mothers who are donating milk to honor their babies life, when a loss occurs.
Q. Prior to accepting donations, is a physician letter required from mom’s MD? From baby’s pediatrician?
A. We do not require a letter from our milk donors' physician. Experience has demonstrated that direct testing of our donors is a much more effective method of assuring the highest level of safety and quality. We require a broader battery of blood tests than any other milk bank on a global level. Retesting must occur at a frequency of every six months to provide bookend test results. Additionally, EVERY DROP of milk is screened prior to processing.
Q. Are donors allowed to take medications, herbal supplements, etc.?
A. We make decisions on allowable medications and herbal supplements based on data supporting safety for use in milk banking. If there is no data available on a medication or supplement - the donor is deferred (not accepted).
Q. Is milk screened for medications, drugs, alcohol, etc.?
A. Yes. Visit our Safety and Quality page for more information on this subject.
Learn more at www.mothersmilk.coop
Mother's Milk Cooperative (MMC) is the one and ONLY cooperative milk bank. Like all cooperatives, we are motivated not by profit, but by service to meet our members’ needs. For us, that means helping moms and babies by providing affordable and high quality donor milk. The Mother's Milk Cooperative is a different sort of milk bank. We are the one and only milk bank owned and controlled by our milk donors. We became a cooperative because we believe that mothers should shape the future of milk banking. We also have the first paid milk donation program in the United States, allowing moms to stay home a bit longer with their babies, support the added expenses of a growing family, or even save for a family vacation.
Q. Where does the breast milk come from?
A. The Mothers Milk Cooperative works with nursing women across the United States. MMC donors tend to be between the ages of 23-35 with the majority of women being in their late twenties. MMC donors come from all walks of life, ranging from attorneys and nurses, human resource professionals, teachers, and stay at home moms. We also serve mothers who are donating milk to honor their babies life, when a loss occurs.
Q. Prior to accepting donations, is a physician letter required from mom’s MD? From baby’s pediatrician?
A. We do not require a letter from our milk donors' physician. Experience has demonstrated that direct testing of our donors is a much more effective method of assuring the highest level of safety and quality. We require a broader battery of blood tests than any other milk bank on a global level. Retesting must occur at a frequency of every six months to provide bookend test results. Additionally, EVERY DROP of milk is screened prior to processing.
Q. Are donors allowed to take medications, herbal supplements, etc.?
A. We make decisions on allowable medications and herbal supplements based on data supporting safety for use in milk banking. If there is no data available on a medication or supplement - the donor is deferred (not accepted).
Q. Is milk screened for medications, drugs, alcohol, etc.?
A. Yes. Visit our Safety and Quality page for more information on this subject.
Learn more at www.mothersmilk.coop
