Our donors are healthy mothers who are in their first two years postpartum with extra milk to share. Our donor qualifications are based on regulatory guidance, current research, best practices and clinical data. Donor screening standards are updated continuously to reflect new research, emerging diseases, new pharmaceuticals and new health risks.

All donors approved by Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee are extensively screened which includes serology testing for HIV-1, HIV-2, HBV, HCV, HTLV; and RPR.

• An initial minimum of 100 ounces is required.

• Complete prescreening application, phone screening interview and donor application.

• Obtain consent from your physician.

• Blood test covered by Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee.

• All of the milk has remained frozen since it was collected.

• Every bottle/bag is clearly labeled with the date collected, including the year.

• No donated milk has been frozen for longer than 8 months.

• All the milk was collected before the baby's second birthday.

• You must practice safe pumping, cleaning and storage guidelines.

Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee provides lifesaving donor milk to the most critical infants. Therefore, temporary deferral periods or a permanent donor exclusion may apply in the following situations:

• Smoking or use of tobacco products

• Alcohol consumption (waiting period required after drinking ANY alcohol)

• Use of illegal recreational drugs

• Use of cannabis or CBD products

• Use of non-approved medications, vaccines, or herbal supplements

• Positive serological test results for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B or C, or syphilis

• Recent history of blood transfusion

• Risk of blood-borne illnesses

• Organ or tissue transplant

• At-risk sexual practices

Questions about approved medications, alcohol consumption or any of the items listed above? Please contact Kaitlyn.Solomon@milkbanktn.org .

1. Count your ounces. Make sure you have 100 oz. of frozen breastmilk that is clearly labeled with the date collected (including year). Also, please check to make sure none of your milk has been frozen no longer than 8 months and that the milk was collected before your baby's second birthday.

2. Complete the prescreening form. Please complete the prescreening form to begin the screening process only if you currently meet the general criteria and have 100 oz of breastmilk.

3. Schedule your phone screening interview. Once you complete the form below, you will be prompted to schedule your 30-minute phone screening interview.

4. Complete donor application. After your phone screening interview, you will be given a donor application to complete if you meet the criteria to proceed in the process. Obtaining your doctor's consent will be a part of the application.

5. Bloodwork. You will have a blood test at a lab near you. The cost of the test is covered by us.

As an accredited member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee follows standards created by healthcare and regulatory experts, ensuring that all milk is donated freely and without financial compensation. This approach is backed by several organizations, including the World Health Organization, FDA, and CDC, who agree that voluntary donation is the safest and most ethical method.

We are aware that some third-party companies offer financial incentives to milk donors, which place undue burden on milk bank donor screeners and milk processors. HMBANA member milk banks do not endorse or participate in these activities. We are grateful to our donors who choose to give their milk altruistically so that medically fragile babies have a fighting chance to grow and thrive! Milk donors are the superheroes who make nonprofit milk banking possible.

Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee does cover the cost of the required blood test and the cost of shipping if you are not located near one of our Milk Drop Depots. We will also provide milk storage bags to our donors in need.

It depends on the medication. Since we serve medically fragile babies, our guidelines for medications may be stricter than guidelines provided by your physician. Before beginning the steps to become a donor, please contact kaitlyn.solomon@milkbanktn.org with questions about medications.

Mother’s Milk Bank of Tennessee provides lifesaving donor milk to the most critical infants. Because our recipients are so vulnerable to infections, they need the safest possible breast milk, therefore we are extra conservative with donor milk expressing and storage guidelines.

Please visit milkbanktn.org/guidelines to see a complete list of storage and cleaning guidelines.

We accept breast milk from approved milk donors up to eight months from the date it was pumped if it has been properly stored.

All breast milk must be pumped prior to baby's second birthday.

We will not accept a mother's milk until she completes the screening process and is approved to donate.

Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) is prioritized for the smallest and most medically fragile babies, for whom research shows the most positive benefits from human milk. Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee dispenses PDHM to hospitals and families for outpatient usage.