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COMMUNITY MILK SHARING
We are dedicated to filling the gap and tearing down the barriers for accessing human milk for our melanated babies
Sharer Eligibility
The milk donors are healthy, lactating individuals with a surplus of milk that is not needed for their own baby, and are all different ethnicities and from different backgrounds.
There is no minimum or maximum amount for donors, especially bereaved donors (those donating after a loss).
Moderate caffeine use is acceptable (up to 3 servings per day). Ongoing use of tobacco products is not approved for milk donation. For questions about specific medications, please contact us.
If you have a question about how COVID-19 impacts milk donation, read the info page here and Prenatal Yini has a great video to watch.
Medications accepted for milk donation include:
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Nasal sprays
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Eye drops
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Topical creams and ointments
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Vaginal creams and gels
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Tylenol (acetaminophen)
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Advil (ibuprofen)
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Oral contraceptives containing progestin only (“mini pill”)
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Inhalers for asthma
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Non-drowsy antihistamines without added decongestants
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Stool softeners ​
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Lactation Supplements
Because we serve a very fragile population, we ask our donors to follow conservative alcohol guidelines. The requirements are as follows:
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No daily use.
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One serving requires a 6-hour wait to pump milk for donation; two servings require a 12-hour wait. I know this goes beyond the recommendations if someone where to nurse their baby, but BLKBRY also provides milk to clients that are Muslim or do not consume alcohol due to other religious or cultural practices. BLKBRY is about equity and increasing accessibility to resources.
Donor Ineligibility
Due to safety precautions and since BLKBRY is providing unpasteurized human milk to folks, the following are reasons for why someone would be automatically ineligible to donate their milk:
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positive for HIV 1/2, HTLV 1/2, Syphilis, & Hepatitis B & C, and/or sexual partner(s) puts you at risk of contracting
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use illegal drugs
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consumes more than one serving of alcohol per day
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you or your sexual partner has received a blood transfusion or blood products in the past 6 months
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you or your sexual partner has received or an organ or tissue transplant in the past 12 months
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you have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
BLKBRY also does not accept milk that is not properly stored.
Social justice concepts are inherently integrated throughout all aspects of training, facilitation, and curriculum. The classification of this title is an indication that the individual is trained and experienced in the competencies of human lactation, breast/chestfeeding, alternative feeding methods, and baby-led feeding (also known as baby-led weaning). It’s acknowledged that for BIPOC folks there are various pathways to gain the competencies to educate and support their communities with lactation and feeding.
How Do I Become A Donor?
Complete online paperwork
The next step is sharing more details about your medical history and lifestyle, as well as signing medical consent forms. With your permission, we will contact your healthcare providers to confirm your health history and the health of your baby.
Approval Message
After receiving your paperwork, I will review your paperwork. I will send you a message through the client portal to let you know if your donation is can be accepted. If accepted, you will then get to schedule getting your milk to BLKBRY.
Make your donation
Once approved, you can schedule the drop off your frozen milk at BLKBRY in Burien, WA. There is no cost to you to become a milk donor. BLKBRY does not pay donors for their human milk.
If you live in Pierce County, Tacoma Urban League is an additional site where you can drop off your donated milk to. Once you apply, you will be contacted to schedule your drop off.
If you live further away, please still apply. BLKBRY is accepting donor human milk from Washington State residents only at this time and will assist with coordinating shipping so that you can safely ship your milk to BLKBRY. If shipping is not an option, we will help coordinate to make sure the milk gets to a Black family in your area.
Receive Human Milk
Donor human milk helps bridge nutritional gaps for babies with medical needs, such as preterm birth, or in cases of illness of birthing parent. Parents and care givers should also consider donor human milk when faced with situations such as:
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Low milk production and needs to supplement their own milk with donor milk.
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Adopted or fostered newborns.
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Baby has allergies or an intolerance to formula
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Double masectomy, resulting in inability to produce milk.
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Previous breast/chest surgeries that affect milk supply.
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Diagnosed with insufficient glandular tissue and needs supplemental milk.
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Treated with certain medications that are not recommended for nursing.
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Lactating parent has an infectious illness that could be passed to the baby through nursing, baby is immunocompromised or have an infectious disease
Requesting Milk
The BLKBRY's milk depot was created to bridge the gap for Black families (the birthing or lactating parent must be Black to qualify) to receive donor human milk at no-cost to them. While donors can be of any race, ethnicity, or culture; the pregnant, birthing, and/or lactating parent must be Black in order to receive milk.
Who Is Eligible For Donor Milk?
Must be a Black Family (with Black birthing or Black lactating parent).
Babies less than a year old, and no prescription necessary may receive milk based on availability. Family must reside in the Puget Sound Area of Seattle. BLKBRY is working to expand to all of Washington State.
In the event of a milk shortage, babies less than three months old or who have critical medical conditions will be served first.
If availability is low, BLKBRY may ask verification from your child’s care provider showing the medical necessity for donor milk.
Donor milk may not available for long-term use. It is meant to be used as a resource to help you transition to your permanent feeding plan. If you're a lactating parent, BLKBRY will connect you to a lactation specialist to support your lactation and feeding journey. Think of it as a bridge between your short-term needs of today and your long-term plans for tomorrow. There are instances where BLKBRY will attempt to secure milk for long-term use.
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Service Area
Once approved, you can pick up your frozen milk at BLKBRY in Burien, WA or schedule a drop off, if you live within 30 minutes of BLKBRY. Pierce County residents are able to pick up at Tacoma Urban League.
BLKBRY does not charge, so there is no cost to you to receive donor milk.
If you live further away, please still apply. BLKBRY can coordinate with you, your support person, or hospital to get milk to you.
Request to receive Human Milk
