There can be various reasons why your baby may need donor breast milk, such as but not limited to; surgery, insufficient glandular tissue, stress, contraindicated medication, postnatal psychosis, mastectomy, other medical conditions not suitable for breastfeeding or you may have a premature, large for gestation or unwell baby that requires more milk than you are currently unable to produce.

It must also be recognised that for most women and their babies, just like any new skill, it takes time to learn how to breastfeed and that, in most circumstances, all they need is a boost to get them off to a good start. By gaining equitable access to donor breastmilk for this interim period, this support encourages new mothers to persevere. With good lactation support from an experienced professional or peer lactation supporter, her whānau/family and community breastfeeding is achievable. However, if her circumstances are prohibitive, the next best goal is to receive donor milk. 

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The World Health Organisation in their published paper, 'Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding 2003', states the following:
       

The vast majority of mothers can and should breastfeed, just as the vast majority of infants can and should be breastfed. Only under exceptional circumstances can a mother’s milk be considered unsuitable for her infant. For those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best alternative – expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet nurse or a human milk bank, or a breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than a feeding bottle and teat – depends on individual circumstances.

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For premature babies, research has shown a great reduction in the incidence of Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC)  when a baby is fed mother's own or donor milk. You can read about the impact of breast milk on NEC  HERE and HERE 

For any baby unable to receive his/her mother's milk, receiving donor milk assists with the foundations for a healthy gut microbiome - balanced gut health leads to a more robust immune system and better long-term health outcomes.

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Mothers Milk NZ Trust recommends home pasteurisation of donor breast milk as a precautionary measure especially for those receiving unscreened donor milk,  but leaves the choice up to the individual. If you are using screened donor milk (lifestyle screening and a blood test) frozen donated breastmilk that has been frozen for 10 days or longer is generally considered safe. 

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