# Breast milk donations Keywords: - [breast milk donations](< /en/search?q=breast milk donations >) We use donated breast milk to feed small and ill newborn infants at our hospitals.  Breast milk is natural nutrition for an infant in the first months of life. Breast milk is an absolute necessity when caring for preterm babies and babies with certain illnesses. As a general rule, small preterm infants are given milk from donors who have given birth within three weeks, when needed, because this milk is the richest in essential nutrients. Other newborns are given donated milk from mothers who gave birth less than two months before. Other small patients will receive milk that has been extracted from a donor who has given birth more than two months before. The parent of a child who is being treated on a ward is always asked for permission to give donated milk to their child. For advice on breast milk donation, please contact our [Breast Milk Center](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/breast-milk-center "Breast Milk Center"). ## Instructions ### Information for people considering donating breast milk --- - The breast milk donor must be healthy. - No more than two months must have passed since they gave birth. - You must not smoke or use any medication or alcohol during the donation. - (Insulin-dependent diabetes and hypothyroidism do not prevent breast milk donation.) - Drug use and sexually transmitted diseases prevent a person from donating breast milk. - A period of six months must have passed since taking a tattoo or a piercing before the donation starts. - The donor must have been under the care of the child health clinic (neuvola) throughout the pregnancy. - There should be at least 2–3 dl/day of surplus milk for donating. With these restrictions on donation, we can ensure that children in hospital are provided with absolutely clean food. A suitable donor mother undergoes blood testing, and bacterial cultures will also be taken from the first batches of milk. The blood test result and the purity of the milk must be approved before the mother is accepted as a donor. The staff at the Breast Milk Center will interview suitable donors and ask for permission to request their information from the maternity health clinic. At the same time, the donor will receive instructions on how to donate. The information is confidential and the staff at the Breast Milk Center are bound by confidentiality. The donor signs a donor agreement and a physician will approve each donor before use of their milk. ### Instructions for breast milk donors --- Donors will receive package containers and, if necessary, an electric breast pump from the Breast Milk Center for a rental fee of EUR 28.90/month. We only accept frozen breast milk, packed according to our instructions in freezer containers available from the Breast Milk Center. A driver will pick up the milk from your home once a week in the area of Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa, and Helsinki. We will also accept breast milk from elsewhere, but the donor must deliver the milk themselves in a cooler to the Breast Milk Center. We pay EUR 17 per kilogram for breast milk. The compensation is tax-exempt income. Payment for milk accepted for delivery accumulated during a calendar month is made to the bank by the 15th day of the following month. The donor will be paid once the blood tests are in order and the donor has been approved by a physician. ### Instructions for extracting breast milk for donating --- We use breast milk to feed small and ill newborn infants at our hospitals. It is therefore important that donated breast milk is handled using clean practices and in strict compliance with the following instructions. - Wash the components of the breast pump (including gaskets and valves) with dishwashing liquid or in a dishwasher after every use. Immerse the components in boiling water once a day for about five minutes. Keep the clean components in a dry and well ventilated location. Make sure your hands are clean when you assemble the breast pump. - Just before extracting milk, wash your hands with liquid soap; breasts can be washed just using running warm water. Dry your hands and your breasts with a paper towel. You might want to use hand sanitizer when you have dried your hands after washing them. If you care for or nurse your baby in the middle of extracting milk, remember to wash your hands and breasts again before continuing the extraction. - Cool the milk quickly under running cold water and store the cooled milk in the refrigerator. You can combine portions of milk extracted during the same day in one bottle or container once they are cooled. Store the cooled milk in the refrigerator for up to one day, after which it should be frozen at the latest. Wipe off any splashes with a paper towel. Send or deliver the milk to the Breast Milk Center frozen. - Freezer containers for storing breast milk are available at the Breast Milk Center. Make sure that your hands are clean when handling the freezer containers, and avoid touching the inner surfaces of the containers and their lids. Label the containers with your customer number and the date, using the labels provided in the package. - Adjust your refrigerator temperature to +5°C and store the milk at the back, where it is coldest. Adjust your freezer to -18°C and use the quick freeze function when you put in new containers. If you deliver the breast milk to the Breast Milk Center yourself, pack the containers carefully in a freezer bag with freezer blocks. **Also note:** - If the skin on your areola is broken, the skin must heal before you can extract milk to donate. - Only use disposable bra pads. - Bacterial growth in the milk will be examined. If the bacterial growth is excessive, the milk is unusable, and we will not pay any compensation for it. Excessive bacterial growth will be reported to the donor by telephone from the Breast Milk Center. - If you need to take temporary medication or have vaccine shots, for example, the [Breast Milk Center](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/breast-milk-center "Breast Milk Center") will give you instructions. ### Handling breast milk and delivering breast milk to your child at the hospital --- #### How to process breast milk at home - Wash the components of the breast pump (including gaskets and valves) with dishwashing liquid or in a dishwasher after every use. Immerse the components in boiling water once a day for about 5 minutes. Keep the clean components in a dry and well aired place. Make sure that your hands are clean when you assemble the breast pump. - Use liquid soap to wash your hands. Before extracting the milk, it is sufficient to wash your breasts just with warm water. Dry your hands and your breasts with a paper towel. You might want to use hand sanitizer when you have dried your hands after washing them. If you care for or nurse your child in the middle of extracting milk, remember to wash your hands and breasts again before continuing the extraction. - Cool the milk quickly under running cold water and store the milk in the refrigerator. You can combine portions of milk extracted during the same day in one bottle or container once cooled. Wipe off any splashes with a paper towel. - Adjust your refrigerator temperature to +5°C and store the milk at the back, where it is coldest. Adjust your freezer to -18°C and use the quick freeze function when you put in new containers. Monitor the temperature of your fridge and freezer with a thermometer. #### Delivering breast milk to your child at the hospital - Milk extracted within one day of delivery can be delivered fresh. Milk extracted earlier than that must be frozen. The nursing staff will provide further instructions. Each batch of milk must be labeled with the date, the full name of the child, and their date of birth. When you transport the milk to the hospital or home, pack the bottles and containers carefully in a freezer bag with freezer blocks. - When your child is discharged or transferred to another hospital, remember to ask for any remaining frozen milk batches to be returned to you, because your milk will not be given to any other child than yours. - Breast milk will keep for about 24 hours in a refrigerator and when frozen, for about three months at home. Breast milk must not be stored at room temperature. Likelihood to recommend (NPS) ## Gynecology and Obstetrics Feedback (pcs) 8749 Situation 2.5.2026 -100 82 100 i What is NPS? ## Units related to the service ### [ Breast Milk Center ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/breast-milk-center) Would you like to donate breast milk to newborns? Fill out the questionnaire on this page. For further advice on breast milk donation, please contact our… ## Further information on this topic ### [ Gynecology and Obstetrics ](/en/about-us/departments/gynecology-and-obstetrics) Our unit is Finland's largest and most comprehensive centre for gynecology and obstetrics.  Updated: 09.01.2026 Print this page