Donated human milk made available through methods of screening, testing, and pasteurization approved by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America is known to be a highly valuable nutrient and immunological combination for ill and high needs infants. The closure of approximately 20 donor milk banks several decades ago because of perceived worries about the transmission of viruses such as HIV and hepatitis through breastmilk, and by a Canadian Pediatric Society client relationship with infant formula companies, was a devastating blow from which human milk banking in  Canada has never recovered. Over the years high needs infants have died or suffer long term sequella because they were unable to benefit from donated milk.  Today, however, the fears of viral infection seem to have subsided – there have been no reported cases of transmission via pasteurized human milk – and plans for the reestablishment of banks are appearing on hospital agendas in Toronto, Montreal, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and  Alberta. Premature and special needs babies can’t wait!

Highly cost effective and requiring little space or staff time, milk banks are the cheapest way to provide low risk feeding. According to Frances Jones of Canada’s only Donor Milk Bank, the BC Women’s Hospital is able to receive milk according to the prescribed protocol from anywhere in Canada.