Community partner spotlight: Mothers milk bank

NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank (NMMB) is a charity that provides donor human milk to hospitals and families across Canada.

All milk is carefully screened, pasteurized, and tested to meet the highest safety standards.

NMMB services include:

• Outpatient access for families
• A medical relief program for those in financial need to cover the dispensation fee
• Hospital partnerships for NICUs and postpartum units
• A network of milk drop depots that make it easy for donors to contribute milk

Eligibility:

• Premature and medically fragile infants or full-term babies with feeding complications, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, or maternal supply delays
• Adopted infants or babies whose mothers are unable to provide milk due to illness, medication use, or loss

Access:

• Families can purchase up to 10 120-ml bottles without a prescription via partner pharmacies.
• If more than 10 bottles are needed, a prescription from a physician, midwife, or nurse practitioner is required for families to order donor milk.
• Physicians can submit a prescription with the required information by calling 403.475.6455, emailing [email protected], or faxing 1.888.334.4372.

Wait time:

• NMMB prioritizes hospital orders for medically fragile infants, so wait time is typically minimal for NICU or postpartum unit needs (often dispensed within 24 – 48 hours).
• For outpatient or home ordering, processing and delivery can take one – three business days, depending on courier schedules and regional pharmacy availability.

You can find and reference previously spotlighted services in the community partner spotlight archive.