« Pregnancy & Birth

Milk Donation and Dispensary

The Women and Infants Center at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital is proud to offer a Milk Depot and Dispensary for families in Sheboygan County. Parents can donate and purchase pasteurized donor milk from an accredited milk bank.

Mother holding a newborn baby

We partner with Mothers’ Milk Banks of the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (WGL) to ensure the safety of pasteurized donor milk through screening, processing and dispensing standards established by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital is the only Milk Depot and Dispensary in Sheboygan County.

The Milk Depot and Dispensary is open to the public for families to donate milk or purchase for short-term supplemental use. Breast milk provides numerous benefits, including infection-fighting factors, growth hormones, and improved nutrition and digestion to newborns.

Many new families face feeding challenges. Donor milk is a safe and healthy way to supplement your feeding choice. We are here with compassionate support and resources to help you and your baby thrive.

As non-profit organizations, we are excited to be able to provide this service for families in Sheboygan County.

HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital

Women and Infants Center 
3100 Superior Ave. 
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 459-4700

Hours

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call (920) 459-4700 appointments available on weekends and outside of regular hours.

About Milk Donation and Dispensary

Your milk donation can help babies with complex medical needs, and families and caregivers with feeding needs in a variety of situations. 

Patients and families who receive donor milk while being cared for in the hospital are not billed for the milk.  

Additionally, donor milk is available for local families and caregivers to purchase for short-term supplemental use at home. This service can help meet needs in a variety of situations, including:
  • Low milk supply or delayed supply
  • Parental absence or separation
  • Maternal medication contraindications
  • Adoption
  • Surrogacy
Donor milk that is provided to babies in the hospital and available for purchase by community members goes through rigorous safety testing, pasteurization, and secure storage. These steps ensure the milk is free from communicable diseases and harmful bacteria, and safe for babies to consume.
If you’re interested in helping families in your community by donating extra milk, please consider the following requirements: 
  • Begin the process by visiting WGL’s milk donation details for step-by-step information. 
  • Once you are an approved donor, plan to donate at least 100 ounces at your first drop-off. There is no minimum for future donations, and we appreciate every drop! 
  • Drop off milk at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan. Keep milk frozen at home and during transport.  
  • Follow Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes (WGL) milk 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.
  1. Fill out a Milk Donor Interest Form 
  2. Complete a phone-screening with a team member from Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes. 
  3. Complete a medical history questionnaire. 
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 HMBABA milk donation standards. Please be prepared to discuss your health history and lifestyle with the donor screeners. 
If you’ve gone through surrogacy or adoption, or have a low milk supply, you can purchase safe, pasteurized donor milk through our dispensary. 
  • Call our Women and Infants Center at (920) 459-4700. Our team will guide you through the process. 
  • A prescription is required for more than 10 bottles. For large orders (10 bottles or more) or if you have a prescription for donor milk, please call the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes at (847) 262-5134. 
  • Call our Women and Infants Center at (920) 459-4700 for dispensary hours, pricing and availability. 
  • Pick up your donor milk from the dispensary at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in the Women and Infants Center. 
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 or containers. 
  • 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.

Patients and families who receive donor milk while being cared for in the hospital are not billed for the milk.  

Milk is also available to local families and caregivers who wish to purchase it for short-term supplemental use at home. The cost is $20 per 4-ounce bottle. These costs cover donor screening, rigorous safety testing, pasteurization, secure storage and shipping. These steps ensure the milk is free from communicable diseases and harmful bacteria, and safe for babies to consume. 

We accept debit and credit card payments. Most insurance companies do not cover donor milk, but you can contact your health insurance company to confirm whether your plan offers coverage.