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Human Milk Helps Premature and Sick Babies

Mom feeding her baby

Human milk provides optimal nutrition for premature infants and can lower the risk of complications related to prematurity. When a mother’s own milk is unavailable to be fed to her premature infant, pasteurized human milk is the next best source of nutrition. Human milk banks depend on milk donation to supply hospitals with pasteurized human milk for the tiniest of patients. Please contact the following milk banks if you are interested in donating:

University of California Health Milk Bank
San Diego, CA
858-249-MILK (6455)
ucmilkbank@health.ucsd.edu

Mother’s Milk Bank
San Jose, CA
1-877-375-6645 Ext. 3
donate@mothersmilk.org

Prolacta Bioscience
(888) 776-5228
milkbankteam@prolacta.com

Knowledge is the best medicine. Learn more about your child's health in these features from the experts at CHOC.

Breast Milk Benefits for Mom and Baby
Breast milk is the ideal food for babies says Dr. Christine Bixby, CHOC’s medical director of lactation services. Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding an infant in this health feature.

Nutrition for Breastfeeding Moms
In the latest CHOC Radio podcast, CHOC clinical dietitians Sue Freck and Gina O’Toole address many questions that breastfeeding moms may have about their own nutrition.

Parents and Preemies
A premature baby or preemie is born before 37 weeks of gestation. They often require hospitalization. The best way for it to grow is to have the mother's milk.