Milk Bank Services

Community Medical Center is proud to offer a pasteurized donor human milk program. This program offers a vital resource for the most vulnerable newborns throughout Montana. Research has shown that babies born too small, too sick, or too soon benefit from an exclusive diet of human milk to support their growth and development. Human breast milk provides essential nutrients and offers protection against illness and infection, which is crucial for newborns, especially those born prematurely or with illness.

The program ensures that pasteurized donor milk is available for babies in need when a mother's milk is unavailable or needs supplementation. The milk is sourced from carefully screened donors through a partnership with Northwest Mothers Milk Bank, a non-profit donor milk bank that provides safe, pasteurized donor milk to the most vulnerable infants in the Pacific Northwest. The Milk Bank collects, analyzes, pasteurizes, freezes, and distributes donor milk, ensuring it meets the highest safety standards.

NWMMB prioritizes serving hospitalized infants first. Because human donor milk is not an unlimited resource, the amount of milk available for outpatient families is variable. When supply levels allow, donor milk is available by prescription for outpatient families, directly from NWMMB. Currently they are experiencing a high demand of milk requests and are prioritizing hospitalized and medically fragile infants at this time.

The pasteurized donor breast milk program allows vulnerable babies at Community Medical Center a better chance to thrive and underscores the hospital's commitment to advancing neonatal care and supporting families during the crucial early stages of their child's life. 

If you are interested in becoming a donor, visit donatemilk.org

For screened donors who need to schedule a drop-off at Community Medical Center in Missoula, please call 406.327.4219