$25 per 4 oz bottle, which helps pay for the safety testing, pasteurization and shipping of the donor milk. You can purchase up to 10 bottles per order. We accept debit and credit card payments at time of pickup. Most insurance companies do not cover donor milk; however, you may call your insurance company to verify coverage.
Milk Dispensary
The Women and Infants Center at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is proud to offer a Milk Depot and Dispensary for families in the Metro East. Parents can safely donate and buy breast milk from an accredited milk bank.
We partner with Mothers’ Milk Banks of the Western Great Lakes (WGL) to ensure the safety of pasteurized breast milk through screening, processing and dispensing guidelines established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). St. Elizabeth’s is the only Milk Dispensary in the Metro East and has now opened the only Milk Depot in St. Clair County.
The Milk Depot and Dispensary is open to the public for families to donate milk or purchase for short-term emergency use. Breast milk is an essential nutritional therapy that provides numerous benefits, including infection-fighting factors, growth hormones, and improved nutrition and digestion to newborns.
About Milk Donation
When you donate to a milk depot that is partnered with Mothers’ Milk Banks of the Western Great Lakes, like St. Elizabeth’s, your milk is delivered to hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois in need of extra milk.
Donor milk is primarily used in the NICU or postpartum unit. Some babies with more complex medical needs may require donor milk while they’re in the hospital and after they go home.
Additionally, milk received at an accredited milk dispensary is available for local families to purchase. Breast milk from donors may be used at home for many reasons, including:
Donor milk is primarily used in the NICU or postpartum unit. Some babies with more complex medical needs may require donor milk while they’re in the hospital and after they go home.
Additionally, milk received at an accredited milk dispensary is available for local families to purchase. Breast milk from donors may be used at home for many reasons, including:
- Low milk supply or delayed supply
- Parental absence or separation
- Maternal medication contraindications
- Adoption
- Surrogacy
If you’re interested in helping families in your community by donating extra milk, please consider the following requirements:
As a non-profit milk bank, we follow standards set by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). As such, we do not pay or otherwise compensate donors for their milk.
- Donate at least 100 ounces at your first drop-off. There is no minimum for future donations, and we appreciate every drop!
- Maintain contact with the Women and Infants team to report medications and household illnesses.
- Drop off milk at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, or work with us to arrange for shipping.
- Keep milk frozen at home and during transport.
- Follow our milk donation guidelines.
As a non-profit milk bank, we follow standards set by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). As such, we do not pay or otherwise compensate donors for their milk.
- Fill out a Milk Bank Donor Interest Form
- Complete a phone-screening with a team member from Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes.
- Complete a medical history questionnaire
- Visit HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Outpatient Lab to complete a blood test, at no extra charge to you.
The donor application process takes about two weeks. During the screening process, we will ask about health factors, such as medications, illnesses, and risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. Certain medications and supplements may not meet the HMBANA milk donation standards. Please be prepared to discuss your health history and lifestyle with the donor screeners.
In order for us to accept milk, please follow these guidelines to reduce the chance of contamination and support safe milk processing and distribution:
- Keep pump parts clean using hot soapy water.
- Store milk in single-use, sterile breast milk storage bags or containers.
- We do not accept milk stored in glass jars, zip-top bags, ice cube trays, etc.
- Label bags or containers with the date that the milk was pumped.
- Only store milk from different pumping sessions in the same bag or container if it was pumped on the same date.
- Never mix temperatures when combining milk.
- After pumping, freeze milk as soon as possible.
- If you keep milk in the refrigerator before freezing, please move it to the freezer within four days.
- Do not scald or heat milk before freezing
- Donate milk that has been frozen for less than nine months.
- Donate milk that was pumped before the baby’s second birthday.
How much does donor milk cost?
Order Donor Milk
Use the form below to place your order. Payment is credit card only, payable at pickup. Milk is available for pickup any day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in our lactation office, located on the 3rd floor and left off of elevators. Enter the hospital through the main lobby entrance. You can also use the door bell to ring the unit.