NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank (NMMB) is a community based, not-for-profit organization thatprovides screened and pasteurized donor human milk (DHM) to babies in need when mother’s own milk is not available.

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• NMMB is part of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), a regulatory body that establishes standards and guidelines for the operation of milk banks.

• There are 3 HMBANA milk banks in Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. Quebec also has milk bank associated with their blood bank. There are 17 HMBANA milk banks in the US.

• NMMB uses the Holder Method of pasteurization (heating to 62.5o C for 30 min), which eliminates harmful bacteria while maintaining the majority of the milk’s beneficial components.

• Each batch is tested for bacteria post-pasteurization by a third party laboratory. Milk is dispensed when test results are negative.

• DHM is dispensed to hospitals, as well as infants in the community. It is dispensed by prescription from a physician, midwife or nurse practitioner.

• Human milk has been shown to protect against problems such as NEC, URI, sepsis, obesity, diabetes, and food allergies. A mother’s own milk is optimal for her baby under most circumstances. However, when unavailable or undesirable, DHM is the next best alternative.

• DHM is dispensed based on availability; highest-priority recipients are preterm and ill hospitalized infants.

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