FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nannette Miranda | News@MothersMilk.org | (510) 646-1201
—New educational resource empowers families to make informed decisions about infant nutrition and the use of donor human milk
San Jose, CA (November 5, 2025) — To help more babies in need, Mothers’ Milk Bank California (MMBCA) today announced the release of A Family Guide to Pasteurized Donor Milk, authored by Dr. Rachel Land, MD, FAAP, Neonatologist at El Camino Health in Mountain View, California, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University.
The new guide provides families with clear, compassionate, and evidence-based information about pasteurized donor human milk — a safe and trusted option that supports the health of medically fragile and newborn infants. Drawing from her experience as a physician, mother, and milk donor, Dr. Land wrote this guide to help parents make informed decisions about their baby’s nutrition.
“As a neonatologist who sees the benefits of donor milk every day, and as a mom and donor myself, I understand how daunting this world can feel at first,” said Dr. Land. “My goal is to offer families the knowledge and reassurance they need to make confident, informed choices about feeding their babies.”
A Family Guide to Pasteurized Donor Milk includes:
- When and why donor milk is recommended
- The benefits of donor milk for both baby and guardian
- Safe storage and handling guidance
- Information on donor screening, pasteurization, and distribution
- Practical resources for parents, families and healthcare providers
By sharing this publication, Mothers’ Milk Bank California and Dr. Land aim to advance the national conversation on infant nutrition — especially for families caring for medically fragile infants — and to empower parents with the knowledge needed to support their baby’s health and growth.
“Education helps families make confident, compassionate decisions,” said Jennifer Benito-Kowalski, Chief Executive Officer of Mothers’ Milk Bank California. “Dr. Land’s guide offers an approachable, science-based resource for any parent navigating early feeding choices.”
A Family Guide to Pasteurized Donor Milk is available for free download here.
To request a printed copy, please email your request to info@MothersMilk.org. Printed copies will also be distributed to our hospital partners and NICUs.
Members of the media are encouraged to:
- Request an interview with Dr. Rachel Land or MMBCA CEO Jennifer Benito-Kowalski
- Obtain a review copy of A Family Guide to Pasteurized Donor Milk
- Access background materials on the role of donor milk in infant nutrition
About Mothers’ Milk Bank California
Mothers’ Milk Bank California (MMBCA)—founded in 1974—is one of the nation’s longest-serving nonprofit milk banks accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). MMBCA collects, pasteurizes, and distributes donor human milk to hospitals and families throughout the western United States. The organization’s mission is to ensure that every infant in need has access to lifesaving donor milk, support maternal health, and advance the science of human milk.
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