BC Women’s Milk Bank

The BC Women’s Milk Bank has operated for over thirty years. It provides pasteurized donor milk to high risk and ill children when their mothers are not able to provide enough breast milk. The pasteurized donor milk is provided with a doctor’s or midwife’s prescription. A processing fee is charged for recipients outside of BC Children’s & BC Women’s Hospitals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Donor Milk

Who are the donors?

Donors are healthy mothers who have completed the screening process. They are able to produce more milk than their babies need.

What does the screening process involve?

Donors complete a short verbal and written questionnaire. Their doctor or midwife is consulted, and blood tests are done at a local lab.

What are the blood tests?

The blood tests include: HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1, HTVV-2, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Why is the milk pasteurized?

Human milk is pasteurized to ensure a safe product. Human milk pasteurization maintains most of the anti-infective properties of fresh human milk.

How much milk do I need to donate?

Mothers need to be certain they meet the needs of their own infant first. Because of the cost of screening, we screen mothers only when they are able to donate at least 3 litres.( 100 oz.) of milk.

How much time will this take?

The time it takes to collect milk varies. Some mothers find that if they pump 30 to 60 mls.(1-2 ounces) each day they have enough milk collected within several weeks.

Do you provide pumps and bottles for storage?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide pumps or bottles.

How do I store the milk?

Milk can be stored in the clean food safe plastic or glass containers or milk storage bag. Baggies may not be used. Please place it in the coldest part of the freezer– usually at the back.

Can I donate if I live outside of Vancouver or British Columbia?

If you live in Canada but outside Greater Vancouver, we are pleased to talk to you about donating although we cannot pay for the shipping of the milk.

How do I become a recipient?

Please call and leave a message at 604-875-2424, local 7634. A doctors/midwives prescription is required for donors milk.

BC Women's Health Centre and Human Milk Bank

Got milk? The BC Women's Milk Bank is accepting deposits.

Canada's only breast milk bank collects, pasteurizes, stores and dispenses milk to mothers who are ill, on medication or who have undergone surgery and are unable to breastfeed.

And for the tiny recipients the difference human milk makes is one of life and death.                                    "They've tried formula and just don't tolerate it," due to allergies, gut surgery, cardiac surgery or kidney problems, said Frances Jones, coordinator of the B.C. Women's Milk Bank.

BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre Foundation "Wish List"

Vancouver has Canada's only donor breast milk program!  The program benefits babies whose mothers are unable to provide any or enough breast milk to feed their infants and babies who are deemed medically unfit for formula.

It is important that that the Milk Bank continues to operate in order to provide critical nutrition for babies, and facilitates further research on the benefits of using donor milk.  The Milk Bank  increases awareness, encourages breastfeeding, and endeavours to expand its services across the country, and promote the concept for other Milk Banks in Canada