For a Hospital

At Mothers’ Milk Bank California, we partner with hospitals to safely integrate pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) into newborn care. As the oldest operating accredited nonprofit milk bank in the U.S., we bring 50 years of experience supporting NICUs, care teams, and families.

This brief guide is designed to help hospital leaders understand why PDHM matters, how it supports patient outcomes, and how partnering with MMBCA can help you get started.

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Why Hospitals Use Pasteurized Donor Human Milk

PDHM saves lives

When a parent’s own milk isn’t available, leading health organizations recommend PDHM as the next best option. For premature and very low birth weight infants, PDHM is associated with:

• Lower risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
• Improved feeding tolerance and immune protection
• Better short- and long-term health outcomes

Studies show PDHM can reduce the incidence of NEC by 50% or more compared with formula when maternal milk is unavailable.

PDHM supports breastfeeding

Using PDHM while families establish their own milk supply reinforces the importance of human milk. Infants who receive PDHM are:

• More likely to be breastfed at discharge
• More likely to be exclusively breastfed months later

This approach supports both NICU care and smoother transitions home.

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Why Partner with Mothers’ Milk Bank California

50 years of trusted experience

Founded in 1974, MMBCA is a charter member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). We currently serve 70% of NICUs in California, helping hospitals provide safe, equitable access to donor milk.

Gold-standard safety and quality

Our process follows HMBANA guidelines and aligns with FDA, CDC, AAP, WHO, and California Department of Public Health recommendations:

• Rigorous donor screening and blood testing
• Holder pasteurization and microbiological testing
• Nutritional analysis and standardized labeling
• Tamper-evident storage and distribution

Hospitals can rely on PDHM that is safe, traceable, and nutritionally appropriate for fragile infants.

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How We Support Hospital Partners

MMBCA works alongside hospitals to:

• Establish or expand PDHM programs
• Provide guidance on handling, storage, and feeding protocols
• Support Baby-Friendly and breastfeeding initiatives
• Educate families about donor milk and milk donation
• Increase awareness and donor participation in your community

Through MMBCA Cares, we also help hospitals build sustainable donor milk collection and distribution models.

“They’re integral to our unit.”
— Neonatology & Lactation Leadership, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

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A Stronger Circle of Care

Hospitals play a critical role not only in providing donor milk, but also in normalizing milk donation. Many donors first learn about milk banking when their own baby receives PDHM. Hospital partnerships help strengthen this cycle—supporting infants today and ensuring milk for the next family tomorrow.