how to get donor milk UK

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Hi Mumsnetters

Due to surgery, I am unable to breastfeed my son everything that he needs and will need to supplement.
Is there a way to get donor milk in the UK? I am emailing a couple of milk banks that are closest to us, but I believe that they only supply to inpatient rather than community.

I think your baby would need to be premature and in medical need.

Human Milk 4 Human Babies on Facebook will be able to help.

But be prepared for the ‘just give him formula’ replies on here… (I have nothing against formula and this is an equally valid choice if you want to!)

Breast milk is a bodily fluid. If you choose to go this route, please be VERY careful where you get it from and make sure it's from a verified safe source. I BF both my DC exclusively, so I'm all for BF, but I wouldn't have ever given them another woman's BM, unless I knew her personally.

As above, you are unlikely to be able to get donor milk unless your baby was premature and/or is medically unwell. You can find and contact your local milk bank using the UKAMB website. I think most milk banks will only provide milk for babies in hospital so it may be a case of contacting ones a bit further away. Unfortunately I think demand outstrips supply hence why they prioritise in this way.

You could contact this milk bank as they make a point if saying they help families in the community too

https://humanmilkfoundation.org/who-we-help/

Hearts milk bank.

Have you also thought about domperidone?

The Hearts Milk Bank will provide donor milk to mother's unable to breastfeed.

it’s your baby but I feel it would be so much safer to give formula which is regulated and safe than to give some milk from a stranger especially from FB groups etc. formula is not evil and the majority of babies are FF!

Of course formula isn't evil but wanting donor milk is a valid choice and milk banks such as Hearts provide screened, pasteurised human milk. The OP is not talking about peer to peer milk sharing.

I know that but it’s been suggested and likely to be suggested more!

I’m in touch with the hearts milk bank thankyou for the information everyone